Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino brimmed with pride after his team held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw, praising their “spirit” and “bravery” against the “best team in the world.”
“The performance was very good,” beamed Pochettino. “We showed the kind of fight and aggression we’ve been working towards. Facing City isn’t easy, but we did ourselves proud.”
Chelsea started strong, controlling the first half with aggressive play and winning duels. However, City dominated the second half, forcing a tactical shift from Pochettino.
“We switched to a back four to limit space,” he explained, “but they exploited a channel. Still, we had a chance to win. It’s a good draw, proving we can fight against anyone.”
The belief from this performance fuels Chelsea’s next challenge: the final against Liverpool. “They’re the second-best team,” acknowledged Pochettino, “but we need to believe we can win. Confidence is key now, and we’ll recover and prepare well.”
Pochettino lauded the collective effort, praising individuals like Raheem Sterling, who “worked hard, defended well, and scored a crucial goal.” Ultimately, he credited the players’ execution.
“We provide the plan,” he said, “but the performance belongs to them. They showed tremendous character today, and that’s how we’ll build our team.”