Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he understands fans booing his players after Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Bournemouth.

Following the final whistle at the Vitality Stadium, Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell went to thank the away fans for their support. Upon getting there, he was welcomed with jeers, abuses and boos.

In reaction, Pochettino said that: “Because of expectation. No? I think the fans know if you invest the type of money people create in the media.

“Okay it is true, but this is an expectation. If you don’t win it is normal that the fans are not happy. But what I can tell the fans is the circumstance, that we cannot change, the reality we cannot change.

“We have too many players (out). Of course, we are a team that will be strong if we are all together. Even Manchester City, Arsenal, all the teams, with normal circumstances with all the squad fit of course can compete for everything.

“Why is it different for us? Why? It is because of what? We don’t have all the squad available from the beginning of the season. What can we do? For me, I have nothing to say. The fans can do whatever they want. We know what we need to do, we are strong in our belief.

“I can understand the emotion, football is about emotion. If the emotion was of course to complain because we did not win. Nothing more. The fans, for sure they are going to help the team on Sunday to help the team against Aston Villa, to get behind the team.”