Poch tells fans: You must forget the past, this is anew project

Under-fire Blues manager sends clear message to supporters ahead of big night for club after show of unity on training field

- Nizaar Kinsella

AFTER another difficult week at Chelsea and with patience among supporters wearing thin - a frustrated Mauricio Pochettino was keen to deliver some home truths.

The message he wants to convey to the unhappy fans is clear: forget about the past, give us time and get behind the team.

Pochettino has appealed for patience ahead of another big night for Chelsea.

The Blues face Aston Villa in an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Villa Park with pressure building on Pochettino after heavy back-to-back defeats by Liverpool and Wolves.

His job is safe for now, but co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali expect to see progress by the summer.

Defeat for Chelsea tonight, however, would be another setback.

European qualification through the Premier League looks like it will be a challenge, so losing tonight could leave their entire season resting on the Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool this month.

The mood among fans is mutinous. Many have called for Pochettino to go after Sunday's 4-2 home defeat by Wolves, when there were chants for former owner Roman Abramovich.

They are pining for the success of the past but, Pochettino (right) is keen to stress, expectations have changed and comparisons with Chelsea teams of old are not fair.