![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/4980042.jpg?r=1695764053671\")
<\/p>\nMauricio Pochettino has been using a confidence trick at Stamford Bridge straight out of the Fast Show\u2019s Competitive Dad handbook. In the late 1990s comedy show, Simon Day\u2019s character would thrash his young children at a number of sports and pastimes, insisting all the while \u201cthey\u2019ve got to learn\u201d.<\/p>\n
Now, in illustrating the fragility of Chelsea\u2019s confidence after just one league win in the opening six games, Pochettino appears to have been engaged in something similar by taking on his misfiring \u00a388m Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk at the Crossbar Challenge.<\/p>\n
Reporters arriving early to Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup clash with Brighton saw Mudryk blaze a 20-yard shot high over the goal on the practice ground.<\/p>\n
Later, Pochettino offered an explanation. \u201cOne example: today, with Mudryk,\u201d he said. \u201cI like to play, ‘hitting the crossbar from outside the box’. He said to me today, ‘No, I\u2019m not going to play anymore with you because you always win!’<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, ‘Yes, because I have the belief! The balance is between belief and quality I know very well because I am 51 years old and you are still young’.<\/p>\n
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\u201c’You still need to know yourself. You start to believe in yourself, then you start to believe in your quality because, if not, there is not a good balance between belief and quality.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult but that is important. That is one aspect that you work on the psychology of the player and can make the difference and provide the players the confidence afterwards to touch the ball and score rather than to go outside and go inside. It\u2019s a small example. So today was the first time that we drew!\u201d<\/p>\n
On the one hand, the much-praised man-manager was happy to give his struggling charge an important boost. On the other hand, the uncompromising Argentinian former World Cup-winning centre-back refused to allow him to go so far as winning!<\/p>\n
That said, it is getting the ball under the bar and into the net that has proved elusive – although Nicolas Jackson\u2019s suspension for picking up five yellow cards this season does not kick in until the weekend.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Enigmatically, Pochettino revealed Jackson had also been punished further. \u201cNot in the way you maybe think,\u201d the Chelsea manager said. \u201cIt\u2019s not money. I don\u2019t like to talk about money with players. But punished in a different way, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n Most of the last two days have been spent in talks to try to unlock a lack of confidence which Pochettino maintains is preventing his players from scoring the goals that would turn their performances into the points demanded at a club where \u00a31billion has been spent on building the squad.<\/p>\n There are some things money cannot buy, however, according to Pochettino. \u201cThe problem with confidence is we cannot buy it in the supermarket,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n What about if, in keeping with the Chelsea philosophy, they went out and bought up a whole chain of supermarkets? \u201cWe need to go Lidl by Lidl,\u201d Pochettino appeared to confirm.<\/p>\n
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