CHELSEA manager Mauricio Pochettino switched the dugouts around on his first match in charge at Stamford Bridge as he looked to gain a few yards on his rivals.
The intriguing change came on Sunday during the Blues’ Premier League kick-off against Liverpool that saw them draw 1-1.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has switched the dugouts aroundRex
AlamyPoch and his Chelsea team took up the bench to the right of the tunnel as they walk out – or the left for TV viewers[/caption]
ReutersIt has been a summer of massive change for the Blues[/caption]
Last year’s interim boss Frank Lampard is clearly on the other side of the tunnelRichard Pelham / The Sun
The home dugout has forever been to the left of the tunnel as the players walk out with the away bench on the other side.
But Pochettino switched sides as he favours a more centralised position.
It is believed that this is all the Argentine tactician’s doing before the Premier League season kicked off.
Pochettino, who is helping Todd Boehly oversee a £1billion transfer revolution at Stamford Bridge, said: “We are moving because we have better space and it is better to be on the right and that was the decision, the day we signed here and the club agreed with me.
“Breaking news, we are moving to the right.
“I don’t know if it’s lucky, I think it’s the best because it’s bigger, because you are in the middle, you are at home and you control everything, for me that is important.
“It was strange that they gave me the best position when I was at Southampton and Tottenham and it was always a thing I was thinking.”
Fans hailed the move, saying “it makes perfect sense”, and claimed the “dude is changing eveything”.
Another theory claims the switch took place due to Chelsea‘s poor win record at Stamford Bridge in the last two seasons.
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The Blues won only six of their 19 home games last term and just nine the campaign before.
By comparison Manchester United won that amount combined last season.
Poch will be hoping his change to the dugouts will dig them out of that hole.
GettyGraham Potter was also on the other side of the tunnel to Poch[/caption]
Pochettino made the change because he prefers a more centralised positionRex