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Mudryk was withdrawn at half-time on Monday and Pochettino said he hoped the 22-year-old would be available for Saturday's game against promoted Burnley.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



Bayern Aim to Go Full Throttle Despite Weakened Defense, Says Kompany

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v St. Pauli - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - March 29, 2025 Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reacts REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v St. Pauli - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - March 29, 2025 Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reacts REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
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Bayern Aim to Go Full Throttle Despite Weakened Defense, Says Kompany

Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v St. Pauli - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - March 29, 2025 Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reacts REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v St. Pauli - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - March 29, 2025 Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany reacts REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are aiming to go "full throttle" and adapt creatively in the final stretch of the season after injuries in defence, coach Vincent Kompany said ahead of Friday's visit to mid-table Augsburg.

With 65 points from 27 games, Bayern hold a six-point lead over holders Bayer Leverkusen. They have won one of their last three Bundesliga matches, losing to lowly visitors VfL Bochum and drawing at Union Berlin before a 3-2 home win over St Pauli.

They are without left back Alphonso Davies and central defender Dayot Upamecano, probably for the rest of the season, and lost centre back Hiroki Ito to a metatarsal fracture in the St Pauli win.

However, Kompany has backed his side to stay confident and aggressive in their seven remaining league games.

"We have a few options for the full-back position. You can also get creative. The important thing is that we have confidence and it doesn't change the fact that we have to go full throttle. We want to win," the 38-year-old told reporters on Thursday, Reuters reported.

"During the international break, we had time to look ahead. You think about how you want to approach these upcoming games, but then we had three fresh injuries. What I want is for the lads to stay fit and then we will get the results."

The Belgian coach named defender Sacha Boey as a good addition to the back line. The 24-year-old has made 12 appearances for Bayern in all competitions this season.

"Sacha is a player who loves playing on the right. He's fit and definitely an option, and he'll get his minutes in the coming weeks. He was in a good position before his injury and hopefully he'll show his qualities again," said Kompany.

"We currently have six players who have regularly played at full-back. It's important that they stay fit."

After the Augsburg trip, Bayern host Serie A leaders Inter Milan in a Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.