Pochettino’s Patience Pays off as Young Guns Fire Chelsea to Victory 

Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage in London, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage in London, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP)
TT
20

Pochettino’s Patience Pays off as Young Guns Fire Chelsea to Victory 

Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage in London, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP)
Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage in London, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. (AP)

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said he never lost faith in his talented young players and that it was important they be given time to adapt to the Premier League after his side picked up their second win of the season by beating Fulham 2-0 on Monday.

Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk, who cost an initial 70 million euros ($75.78 million) in transfer fees in January, scored his first goal for the club, with striker Armando Broja also netting for the first time since his return from a serious knee injury.

"We need to understand that young people need time and need to settle. It's about adaptation," Pochettino said.

"It's a big change when Mudryk arrived here, and when you arrive at a team, it's not easy to settle in a team that isn't solid.

"It's about time, having patience, trusting these young talented players, building confidence. It's a big job, step by step."

Mudryk was withdrawn at half-time on Monday and Pochettino said he hoped the 22-year-old would be available for Saturday's game against promoted Burnley.

Chelsea are 11th in the table after taking only eight points from seven matches but Pochettino said they never pressed the panic button when results were not going their way.

"Sometimes people don't have the patience but for us it's about having the patience," he added. "Even when we weren't winning, we were calm, stayed positive, had the belief."



Montpellier Appoint Former PSG Assistant Coach Camara as Manager

(From L, first row) Paris St Germain's assistant coach Zoumana Camara (red jersey) takes part in a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training grounds in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on September 24, 2019. (AFP)
(From L, first row) Paris St Germain's assistant coach Zoumana Camara (red jersey) takes part in a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training grounds in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on September 24, 2019. (AFP)
TT
20

Montpellier Appoint Former PSG Assistant Coach Camara as Manager

(From L, first row) Paris St Germain's assistant coach Zoumana Camara (red jersey) takes part in a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training grounds in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on September 24, 2019. (AFP)
(From L, first row) Paris St Germain's assistant coach Zoumana Camara (red jersey) takes part in a training session at the club's Camp des Loges training grounds in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris on September 24, 2019. (AFP)

Montpellier have appointed Zoumana Camara as manager, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday, with the team bottom of the standings and on a nine-game losing streak.

This will be 46-year-old Camara's first managerial role, having spent over five years as an assistant to Laurent Blanc, Unai Emery and Thomas Tuchel at Paris St Germain, where he played the last eight years of his career.

Camara left that position after the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino in 2021, and spent three seasons coaching the PSG Under-19 team.

Jean-Louis Gasset, who had announced his retirement when leaving his role as interim manager of Olympique Marseille at the end of last season, took charge of Montpellier in October.

Montpellier have 15 points from 28 games, and with six matches remaining, are 11 points off 16th spot which would still put them into a relegation playoff.

Camara's first game in charge will be at Angers on Sunday.