Pochettino won’t lose his hair over Chelsea crisis

Chelsea’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge in London on February 4, 2024. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) /

Mauricio Pochettino insists he won’t lose his hair because of Chelsea’s dismal form as the under-fire Blues boss called for perspective over their slump.

Pochettino’s side head to Aston Villa for an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday reeling after successive heavy defeats.

Chelsea lost 4-1 at Liverpool, then slumped to a chastening 4-2 home defeat against Wolves on Sunday.

Pochettino was jeered by angry Chelsea fans during the Wolves capitulation, leading to fresh speculation that the Argentine could be in danger of the sack.

The former Tottenham boss has been unable to make positive impact on Chelsea despite major investment in new signings since taking charge in the close-season.

With Chelsea languishing in 11th place in the Premier League, an FA Cup exit at Villa would only add to the pressure.

But Pochettino insisted he would retain a sense of enjoyment in the job even in trying times.

“Football is my passion, not my job,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Sometimes we say ‘job’ but it’s the wrong word. Football is entertainment.

“Being coach, I need to keep a sense of why I am here. We cannot suffer because of business and other things. We need to be focused to play football.

“To be focused in football, you need to feel free in your mind. You cannot be affected because the stock in New York or Tokyo, or the weather or because the farm doesn’t grow.

“That’s why I keep my hair like this, because I don’t suffer from things that I am not in charge of. I only suffer for football, to try to improve