Poch pleads for patience as Villa defeat piles misery on Blues

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has stressed the need for patience after his side fell to their third Premier League loss of the season against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ollie Watkins' goal was enough to condemn the Blues to another defeat and leave them 14th in the table.

The club have reportedly spent over £1billion in just three transfer windows since Todd Boehly's takeover in 2022 but Pochettino is adamant that he will need time to turn their fortunes around.

He said: "It's about learning, it's about the process.

"We are a young team in a process that they need to learn all together. When you lose it's difficult but we need to talk about positive things.

"No doubt that with time the team is going to perform but of course now we cannot hide the situation. It's a situation that disappoints all the fans, the club, us and the players.

"They [the owners] are disappointed. They arrive at the club so excited to build the project. Of course, they feel disappointed but at the same time they need to support the plan."

One positive for Pochettino was the return of striker Armando Broja from a knee injury that has kept him out since November.

Broja played 11 minutes of Sunday's defeat from the bench and will add to Chelsea's attacking options.

Pochettino said: "It was good to see Broja after 10 months.

"I think to have the possibility to have different options is good for the team. But he needs to build his confidence also."