No time to dwell - Pochettino

The gaffer admits Southampton’s winter fixtures have been tough but draws satisfaction from how the side have still continued in the same preceding manner involving the creation of ample goalscoring opportunities. 

After overseeing an unlucky 2-1 defeat away to Everton, Pochettino is looking for a swift response from his players in the build-up to another testing battle when Saints welcome Chelsea on New Year’s Day.

Looking back on the loss at Goodison Park, the Argentine told Saints Player: “I think overall we had a very good game yesterday; we created many chances. In the end, the result didn’t go our way so that was a shame. 

“There’s no time to lament what happened yesterday. We just need to recover as soon as possible and fully focus on the game that’s coming very quick, very soon. 

“The calendar is very tough of late. We’re facing the top sides but we’re able to maintain our style; we’re able to maintain our performances, our philosophy of football. 

“Again, the results are not coming our way but at least we’re keeping the same performances and same style. Now, we’re facing Chelsea and that’s going to be another tough game. We hope to face this game as confident as possible. 

“It’s clear that Chelsea are a top side, a great team. They have great, talented players. We learned a lot from that game. It was a very competitive game and it’s going to be another competitive game against them this time around. 

“There are many factors that happened during that game (against Chelsea) to balance the end result of the game. We know them well and we’re more than aware that we’re going to be facing a very tough team.”

Pochettino is adamant that Saints are working in the right way as 2014 approaches and confirmed he will continue to develop the less experienced players that are breaking into the First Team as he strives to form a strong, young squad. 

“I think the evolution is correct, it’s positive,” he analysed. “We’re on the right path. The team has many young players – we’re a very young side. The philosophy of the team, the style of the team has changed ever since we took over. The team is still growing and maturing. 

“We will see at the end of the season how far we can go. I think sometimes we forget the main point is that, for example yesterday, we had four or five players that were 17, 18, 19 years old and are starting to come into the side and starting to get their First Team experience. We were facing an Everton side that has a lot more experienced players. 

“We were facing a team that already has experienced players while we’re still nurturing and developing young talent. I think we sometimes lose sight of that and tend to think ahead of ourselves. The focus is always to win the next game and keep on growing and maturing as a team.”

Meanwhile, the First Team Manager confirmed that there is still no return date for Artur Boruc who remains out injured, while it was revealed that Dani Osvaldo is being assessed ahead of Wednesday’s game with Chelsea at St Mary’s. 

Regarding a time period for Boruc’s comeback, Pochettino said: “We do not know yet. There’s no definite timeline for when he’s going to be back. We don’t know yet.

“After the game against Newcastle he (Osvaldo) picked up a knock on his right leg, so that ruled him out of a few games and then he picked up an illness and we’re waiting to see what the analysis is of that illness to see when he’s going to be back.”