The strength of Chelsea fans’ resentment towards their own players has been noticed through an agent who sits among the fans and has team members.
Chelsea reached the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday with a 4-2 win over Leicester at Stamford Bridge, but the unsettling atmosphere ruined that feat. Raheem Sterling was attacked by Blues fans, who mocked a free-kick and booed when Mauricio Pochettino repositioned Mykhaylo Mudryk in the England striker’s position.
The poisonous atmosphere at Stamford Bridge did not go unnoticed, with Pochettino forced to protect himself and Sterling from the fans. “They have to accept as true that with me I manage in the way that I think is most productive for the club,” he said emphatically. .
The Telegraph reports that a representative of a Chelsea star likes to sit among the enthusiasts to assess the emotions surrounding his player. He was amazed at how enthusiasts can temporarily oppose one of their own players.
“The players know that,” he said. They hear it and they get it. They might say they can forget it or block it out, but it has an impact. This was clear after Leicester’s victory, when Carney Chukwuemeka publicly called on his fans to back Sterling, rather than reprimanding him after missing a penalty and a one-on-one chance.
Sterling’s Instagram post, which included an apology for the missed penalty, garnered responses from Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Ben Chilwell, all showing their support. Madueke also felt the need to hit back at an unsupportive fan, writing, “Don’t worry man, other people like you are the problem. “
Meanwhile, one of Sterling’s reps, Kelly Hogarth, took to X/Twitter to express her frustration, writing, “Isn’t it counterproductive for enthusiasts to boo their own players?Especially when they’re looking for victory? This creates a tone of concern. “That affects the stability of the whole team and brings credit to the opponent. Strange.
“There is a strong correlation between admiration/help and performance. All of those things are trust. Fans want to help players who are struggling get in shape, not disrupt them.
Pochettino was transparent in his post-match press conference when asked if he was concerned about the reaction of Blues fans. “No, that’s why I made that decision. I’m not here to do what others want,” he said. .
“I’m not stupid either. I saw Mudryk and we thought he wasn’t going to finish the game. We are professionals and we need to win. But, of course, I understand the situation perfectly, but that doesn’t mean we agree. “I have to accept for granted that I have to manage in the way that I think is most productive for the club. I know very well how to manage. “
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