The Argentine, who took charge in the summer, is attempting to mould a competitive team together from a squad that contains many players who have arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2023.

Our displays against sides near the top of the table have largely been encouraging – think Liverpool, Arsenal, City at home and Tottenham away. But inconsistency has been a thorn in our side from the second gameweek, when we were beaten at West Ham.

‘The performance from the beginning of the season is not bad,’ Pochettino said when asked for his thoughts on the campaign thus far.

‘We could have said it’s very good, but in terms of competing we are at the bottom. That is why we are not in a better position in the table.

‘Football is about having all the quality and knowledge in your set-ups, the way you press and build from the back, and so on. Then at some point during the 90 minutes, you need to compete: that is the moment you need to show you can play another [style of] football. We need to improve there.’

The regularity with which we have been without so many players due to injury has not aided Pochettino’s cause.

‘We knew it would be a tough job, but the injuries and suspensions have made it worse. Too many important players out, too many circumstances from the beginning of the season not in our hands. That is the problem. That makes us disappointed and frustrated, but it’s a challenge.

‘With this new project it’s about knowing people, knowing the players, knowing how everyone behaves, and having an idea for the future,' continued Pochettino.

‘It’s important to see how the players can cope with the pressure of playing for Chelsea. We have experienced players but a young squad that need to feel the Premier League.’

The head coach is, however, under no illusion of the big improvements required if we are to come anywhere near matching his pre-season ambition for the Blues to finish in the top four.

‘We are so far away from our targets,’ he acknowledged.

‘Our target was to be at the top, even if nobody believed it. Now we are fighting for different things.

‘Because of our history the demand is to be at the top, but at the moment, being realistic, we need to increase the way we compete if we want to win more games than we lose.’