Mauricio Pochettino admits Chelsea’s loss at Liverpool in midweek was a ‘reality check’ for his inexperienced side.
Chelsea’s improved run of results came to an end after a 4-1 thrashing at the Premier League leaders on Wednesday night, with the West Londoners conceding 28 shots on goal in a one-sided contest at Anfield.
Chelsea will look to bounce back when the Blues face Wolves at Stamford Bridge this weekend, with Pochettino admitting his team were dealt a reality check last time out.
“Of course, a reality check. Liverpool are there because they deserve to be at the top of the table,” Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference.
“It’s a game we lose for different circumstances. Now we can talk in a different way and use different topics.
“It’s so important to realise why. It’s not only to work harder, but to improve as a team. In different periods of the game, we showed lack of experience as a team.
“Sometimes you can practice every single day but you have to arrive and show the right energy, the right attitude, to be brave, show personality and character. Football is also that.
“No it’s not a reality check. It’s the difference between a team that is playing consistently and challenging for four or five years.”
Chelsea were linked with signing a striker in the January transfer window, though no deal materialised despite the exit of Armando Broja on loan. It marked a quiet window for Premier League clubs, with just a fraction of the funds spent last winter invested this time around.
“I think it was calm and quiet. I was listening today on a Spanish radio that, I think, one year ago the Premier League invested in nearly one billion and today maybe we’re talking about £80m. In Spain it was the opposite. That is normal. We know the situation. The market was quiet in the Premier League and Championship.”
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