Pochettino joined a Chelsea side that had finished 12th last season but knew the target for this campaign was European qualification.
With big money signings in Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku – sights might have been set on a return to the Champions League but European football in any form looked unlikely for much of the season.
However, a run of seven wins from their last 10 games pushed them up the table in the season’s final weeks.
“I am so happy with the run in the last part of the season,” Pochettino told Sky Sports. “Credit to the players and that is how we want to compete.
“For the history of Chelsea, it is hard to celebrate but it is the first step to achieve bigger things after. We are really close.
“Season-by-season, it is about improving. We know how we need to compete next season. We have a young squad but with more experience in the Premier League now.”
Aston Villa fans have been getting excited for Tuesday's Champions League opener against Young Boys (17:45 BST) with fan Luke thinking he "might get a bit teary
By Paul O’Donoghue, Senior Correspondent Several of Europe’s leading football clubs risk falling foul of EU sanctions due to a rise in tra
In the hours after Spain defeated England in the Euro 2024 final, Aymeric Laporte went on Twitter/X in the changing rooms inside the Olympic Stadium in Berlin a
The new-look UEFA Champions League is back for its 2024-25 season. For the first time in its history, 36 teams will participate in Europe’s premier club compe