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.”