Chelsea legend FUMES: Pochettino's 'embarrassing' Blues play 'like kids'

Tom Weber

• Updated: 23 Apr 2024 10:59 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea great Ruud Gullit did not hold back when discussing his former team after their FA Cup loss to Manchester City.

It has been an incredibly underwhelming first season under Mauricio Pochettino for Chelsea, only somewhat salvaged by the stunning form of Cole Palmer, who has been so good that the Argentine coach is worried about his side becoming a one-man show.

Despite sitting in mid-table in the Premier League, Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup final - where they were beaten by Liverpool - and they also could have made it to the showpiece event of the FA Cup. However, atrocious finishing and a hilariously bad Mykhailo Mudryk free kick let the Blues down and a tired Man City ultimately prevailed, much to the chagrin of Blues legend Ruud Gullit.

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In conversation with The Sun, the Dutchman absolutely tore into Pochettino's Blues, describing their outing against a Man City side there for the taking as 'embarrassing' and 'horrible.'

Gullit blasts Chelsea

“When I watch this Chelsea, it is not going to work," Gullit said. "They signed too many players and it is a mess. When you bring in so many new players like that, it’s almost impossible. But Pochettino knew this was the case when he took the job. So he has to take responsibility for that. Do I blame him? No. But he is responsible for it.”

"If there was a moment when they could beat City, it was on Saturday, because you could see they were f*****, they were gone. They were making mistakes they wouldn’t normally make because they were tired. And if you are Chelsea and you can’t take advantage of that - my God! It was horrible.”

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Gullit was left speechless by Mykhailo Mudryk's stoppage time free kick which was so bad that it went viral on social media. "How was it possible he could do it that badly? Of course it pissed off the Chelsea fans. And I think you have to name it as it is, to tell the truth."

Regarding the fight between Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson over a penalty against Everton, Gullit said: "It was like watching kids, children. In a proper team that doesn't happen. It’s embarrassing. For Pochettino it’s embarrassing. For the board, it’s embarrassing."