Mauricio Pochettino pinpoints the moment he feared he would be sacked by Chelsea

Chelsea are on the rise after a worrying run of form (Picture: Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino has pinpointed the moment he feared he would be sacked by Chelsea.

Following a worrying run of form, Chelsea appear to be on the rise again, winning their last four games to climb to sixth in the Premier League ahead of the final day of the season.

Chelsea had been languishing in mid-table for much of Pochettino’s first season at Stamford Bridge and the Argentine admits he feared for his job following a particularly harrowing 4-2 defeat at home to Wolves in February.

Losing to Wolves saw Chelsea drop into the bottom-half of the table and sparked intense speculation over Pochettino’s future at the club, with Thiago Silva’s wife Bella even appearing to call for a change.

Asked if there had ever been a moment he believed he was about to be sacked, Pochettino said: ‘I can be honest? I think after Wolves. Remember what happened after, also?

‘I didn’t think we are going to be sacked, but it was a tough moment. That defeat at home was really tough, really tough. 

‘At this moment, as a coach and a staff, you feel loneliness. When you feel like everyone is seeing you as if you’re guilty of something and you don’t know what’s going on. 

The Blues suffered a demoralising defeat to Wolves in February (Picture: Getty)

‘In this moment, we feel the loneliness. We were alone there after the game. Waiting. We spent two hours. It was a long time after the game we were there, watching at each other, the five coaching staff, in a very small room. 

‘Yes, but not thinking that, we were more sad. It was an unfair situation we were in. It was a situation we didn’t deserve, but the result put us in a very difficult situation.’ 

To Pochettino and Chelsea fans’ relief, the Blues have enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks to overtake West Ham, Manchester United and Newcastle United in the Premier League table.

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But Pochettino is in no mood to celebrate Chelsea’s recent success and insists the club demand more from him and his players.

‘We were talking this morning as a staff – it’s not enough for us,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to celebrate and take a picture finishing fifth or sixth and Europe. 

‘It’s not enough for the club. It’s not enough for the owners, the sporting directors or the players.

‘But with all the circumstances, I feel satisfaction and to finish positively and in a very good way, with general opinion about optimism and very positive… when you feel that, you need to congratulate a good job. But, it’s not enough in a club like Chelsea, for sure.’

Chelsea host Bournemouth on the final day as they look to secure European football for next season and potentially even finish fifth above London rivals Tottenham.

On the threat of Bournemouth, who are aiming for a top-half finish, Pochettino said: ‘It’s going to be a really tough game, they are doing so well. Andoni Iraola is doing a good job but the most important thing for us is to finish well and see if we have the chance to get the place [in Europe].’

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