Poch hoping for home comforts as he bids to get fans onside

THERE threatens to be as much focus on the terraces as the pitch when Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea return to action against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge tonight.

- Dan Kilpatrick

Pochettino has vowed to win over Chelsea fans after he was booed and urged to "f*** off" by sections of the away end in last weekend's 2-2 draw at Brentford, and tonight's game marks the resumption of a union which feels increasingly fragile and fractured.

The Argentine has pleaded for time and said he would never consider walking away from the club, but winning round a fanbase which appears to have lost patience with both the head coach and the ownership is now key to the prospects of Pochettino's long-term project in west London.

"No, no, no. Why? Never," replied Pochettino, when asked if he could consider taking the fans' advice and stepping down.

He added: "The fans are not going to love any more another coach at Chelsea. I knew it was going to be tough [and] we need time and belief.

"If you compare with the past, when you are in a different project, people need to understand. I've tried to explain. I talk, I move my mouth, but you don't hear.