After more than six months based in SW6, Pochettino has overseen progress in the playing squad whilst guiding Chelsea to the Carabao Cup final and maintaining a steady upturn in form.

Speaking ahead of the Wolves encounter, our head coach gave an insight into how he views his work and how it informs his decisions. Pochettino explained that he sees the squad as a meritocracy, believing in the idea that the players who perform in training and matches will have the opportunity to showcase their talents regularly.

Using Mykhailo Mudryk as an example, Pochettino detailed the Ukrainian’s role in a meritocratic side with the head coach looking to get the best out of all of his players.

‘If you keep your form and you’re the best in every single training session [then you will play],’ he began.

‘We’re a meritocracy as a coaching staff and will go with the players who are working the best on the pitch. Misha is a young guy who one year ago arrived here – and we know the circumstances around that – and he needs to improve.

‘He has amazing quality and potential, and it is also a collective game. It is not tennis; the players need to perform as a group.

‘If you see him, he is amazing, but he needs to adapt and play for the team. The team needs to play for him also. All of that needs time.’

In his developing squad, Pochettino believes that nights like the disappointing defeat to Liverpool can help build character and determination within his side, as the players look to bounce back immediately.

‘It was important for us to feel what it means to play against a team that was celebrating their coach, giving positive energy to the team, giving it full confidence,’ he continued.

‘You need to show your character, your personality, and then play. Then there are circumstances, and after five minutes we could have been 1-0 up. Ok, bad luck. I don’t complain because everyone saw at the end of 90 minutes they were better.

‘Now we need to talk about a defeat. But in football, the most important thing is to move on. It’s to not be affected by the result and use it as a situation to improve.

‘We are a young team that needs to live this type of situation, we have to feel this to improve.’