Chelsea loved a powerful end to the Premier League season with 5 straight victories, regardless of the opening months below Mauricio Pochettino being removed from plain crusing.
On the midway stage, Chelsea had managed simply seven wins within the league, drawing 4 and dropping eight. The strain was mounting below Pochettino, although the Argentine managed to show issues round – within the second half of the season, the Blues misplaced simply three video games and stormed to a spot within the Europa League.
Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic proved an integral half to that turnaround, and the Serbian explains to FourFourTwo the second the place Chelsea recovered their mojo.
Djordje Petrovic of Chelsea (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“I can’t clarify what occurred precisely, however perhaps we are able to say the second half towards Aston Villa was a sport the place we modified,” Petrovic explains. “We knew earlier than we might play at a excessive degree, however one thing occurred there, the vitality from the entire staff and everybody on the bench. We performed the second half towards Aston Villa superb and after that we continued the following 5 video games.”
The goalkeeper doesn’t know why it took a bit earlier than their season actually obtained going, both, however, when requested in regards to the leaders within the squad, Petrovic emphasises everybody has that chief’s mentality. Three of his team-mates have stood out particularly, although.
“I don’t have precisely a solution to that, however I feel we had some good video games earlier than, the place we didn’t win, however we’ve all the time been collectively to assist one another, that’s [a] sort of management [we showed within] the staff.
Pochettino has managed to show issues round (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
“Earlier than the sport, or at half-time, everybody all the time says one thing. But when I have to say some guys, I’ll say Conor [Gallagher], Reece [James] is all the time with us, once we play at dwelling and he helps us and Thiago [Silva]. However everybody has that in himself, like a management [mindset], the place everybody tries to assist.”
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Having damaged into the primary staff following Robert Sanchez’s damage, Petrovic is grateful for the chance. Highlighting how he happy he’s along with his general efficiency, the 24-year-old additionally recognises the good thing about having Pochettino and his teaching workers.
“I didn’t anticipate to play this variety of video games. I can enhance and I wish to be a extra full goalkeeper; there have been video games the place perhaps I might have executed a greater job, however ultimately I could be completely happy.
“They [Pochettino and his staff] believed in me and so they gave me the prospect; from the beginning from my first sport and [also] earlier than that once I didn’t play. They assist me loads and so they have a relationship with the gamers had been everyone seems to be necessary, so that may be a great way for everybody. When you’ve got 25 gamers with the identical qualities, generally it’s troublesome to handle [that] with everybody, however he [Pochettino] is doing that very nicely. Everybody believes [in] him, we’re completely happy to have him as a coach.”
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