players have enjoyed an uplifting first week of training under their new manager .
The Argentine officially began work as ’s permanent successor seven days ago and, according to the , has made an instant impact, improving the spirit and camaraderie that was in such short supply over the course of a chaotic 12 months.
that undermined Potter’s chances of succeeding and Frank Lampard’s hopes of masterminding a late season rally during his interim tenure.
The players that began training last week, meanwhile, are said to have been enthused by Pochettino’s welcoming attitude and decision to put the emphasis of team building.
‘There is a lot of work to be done, that’s my synopsis after six weeks, the basics I keep talking about. Standards sounds a really simple word but it’s so relevant to this club at the minute,’ Lampard said back in May.
‘Standards collectively have dropped, I can be honest about that, particularly as it’s the last game, I might not see some of them that much anymore anyway. The standards for a club like Chelsea have to be at a maximum or you won’t be physically competitive enough. Or you won’t get to play at a high level or a high speed like the Premier League demands.
‘If you’re not together in the dressing room, and you’re not vocal in the dressing room driving each other and competitive because I want your place and you want mine and all of those things, any top team has to have that.
‘At the minute, when I came in, very quickly I could see that wasn’t there enough. I think that’s something needed and of course a very good manager will help that. But everyone in that needs to take responsibility, players and club alike.’
Pochettino will welcome back more of his international stars this week and will have another 10 days or so to work with them before Chelsea embark on their pre-season tour.
The Blues are scheduled to play four games in America against Brighton, Newcastle, Fulham and Borussia Dortmund.
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