Pochettino Pleased For Strikers

For a second successive game both Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez were on target for Saints with well-taken goals which set the hosts on their way to another impressive victory in the Barclays Premier League.

“I am really happy for both players because they were both quality goals,” the manager told Saints Player after the game.

“They are both strikers and strikers live off scoring goals so it is important that they have the confidence in the remaining games to go on and score more goals.

“It is not easy to get consecutive teams in this league, especially against hard teams like that,” Pochettino added. “Whilst it is normal for us to be happy we fully deserved the win as we played really well today, so we are really happy with the performance and the result.  

“Chelsea are a good team and the result just reinforces the work that we are doing throughout the week and shows that whilst our trajectory is good there is still plenty of work to be done.  

“What is really important is that players, the fans and the club believes that we can continue to pick up victories, especially in the games ahead.”

Saints were put under a fair bit of pressure towards the end of the game, and Pochettino was pleased to see his side hold out for the success to build on for the matches that remain.

“It is clear that Chelsea have amazing players,” he highlighted, “normally when you make changes it is to improve the team on the pitch but when you are leading 2-1 most teams will try to preserve that lead rather than lose it. 

“Victories always give us more confidence in ourselves and the work that we are doing.  

“I really want to highlight the jobs of players that don’t get much playing time like Kelvin (Davis) because he came in for Artur and did a really good job today.  That is why it is important to highlight those players because it shows the hard work that goes on behind closed doors, so I am pleased for everyone today.”

Pochettino said that Artur Boruc was withdrawn at half-time after feeling dizzy at the interval, and reiterated that there is no target of points for the remainder of the campaign.

“It is a question I have been asked a number of times in the past and I don’t tend to answer it directly because we just focus on the next game and getting the three points from that game.

“It isn’t important to look at the table at this point in time, what is important is to prepare for the match ahead of us and prepare for that very well.”