06 December 2023 , 08:43
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Mauricio Pochettino has blamed a change of rules in the Premier League for his side's poor disciplinary record this season.
Chelsea have amassed 47 yellow and three red cards already this term. Malo Gusto was dismissed against Aston Villa in September and now the Blues have had England duo Reece James and Conor Gallagher both sent off in their last two games.
According to Pochettino, it is the FA's new rules, targeting petulance - such as dissent and kicking the ball away - which is the reason for his side's record. Speaking ahead of Chelsea's clash with Manchester United on Wednesday, Pochettino said: "Today we were talking in the meeting and we showed the clips of the yellow cards. There are too many because they changed the rules this season."
"We touch and we put the ball from here to there, and that is something that we need to change."
"We were talking about Nicolas Jackson, the yellow card because of complaining to the referee. The opponent made a foul and didn't receive a yellow card."
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"But you complain about 'why is that not a yellow card?' And it's 'Oh, yellow card for you'. We receive like this. It's difficult to understand this rule but now the referees want to apply it."
No player in the Premier League has received more than Jackson's seven bookings this term, and the striker has already had to sit out one game through suspension.
Now Pochettino has challenged his players to be much more clever, if they are to avoid picking up similar suspensions.
He added: "We need to be clever and improve in this area. We cannot be silly to repeat, repeat, repeat the same mistakes."
"When we play football, always if you made a foul, if the opponent came to take the ball quick, boom, you touch. Even when you play football with your friends, that happens. It's difficult to change."
The last time Pochettino faced Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was when he was in charge of Spurs during their dramatic 3-2 Champions League semi-final victory over the Dutchman's Ajax in 2019. And while the Chelsea manager noted that the match would have been painful for his opposite number, it was one of his "best nights in football".
He said: "Of course it was really painful, the situation, but sometimes when you are a coach there are things you cannot control. This is the beauty of football." He wasn't on the pitch. People make you responsible of course. But you cannot change anything from outside. It was difficult. "
"One of my best nights in football. For sure it was tough for him. But we all move on. For sure he has moved on and he is at a great club now. It's going to be nice to meet him."
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