- Chelsea earned all three points after a 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday
- Mauricio Pochettino gave his players and staff three days off after the victory
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Chelsea‘s players and staff were given three days off after edging out neighbours Fulham, with Mauricio Pochettino feeling they need a chance to catch their breath before attacking the second half of the season.
He needs it, too. Pochettino was a frantic, arm-flapping presence on the touchline as Chelsea clung on to their slender lead after Cole Palmer’s penalty in first-half stoppage time.
The Blues manager spent the last few minutes kicking every ball when his players poured forward to seek a second goal, then desperately beckoning them back to defend as Fulham broke.
He was then imploring them in pained hope to concentrate amid a late flurry of Fulham set-pieces, but the final whistle brought relief and so Pochettino could breathe again.
For the next couple of days he is seeing family in Spain during Chelsea’s 10-day gap between matches — though he said he will not be able to turn his phone off with the transfer window open.
Chelsea’s players and staff were given three days off after edging out neighbours Fulham
Manager Mauricio Pochettino could do with the rest too after a frantic time in west London
Pochettino needed a win as much as anyone after last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat at Middlesbrough. This was not an emphatic response but it was at least a victory.
Chelsea have won four of their…