Is trust still available in the modern game? | OneFootball

Hearing Todd Boehly speak at the Qatar Economic Forum recently would have been comforting for those who feared for the future of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Chelsea owner used his time in the Middle East to talk about the virtues of patience when building a successful sports team and how he has learned to block out the noise of those calling for him to swing the guillotine at the first sign of trouble.

The American would end his time on stage by saying “anything really good takes a little bit of time.”

It was the clearest hint yet that Pochettino will remain in post at Chelsea after successfully turning the tide at Stamford Bridge following a run since Boxing Day that has the Blues fourth in the form table.

Indeed, for now, the Argentine’s job is safe and he will, in all likelihood, lead the Blues during the 2024/2025 campaign.

While Boehly might have seen enough to persist with this project, the same isn’t necessarily true for a larger part of Chelsea’s fanbase.

My good opinion once lost is lost forever

Essentially, an indifferent start under Pochettino where the club spent time in the bottom half of the league has done irreparable damage to the 52-year-old’s standing among a section of the support. This begs the question, is trust dead in the modern game?

Let’s start by stressing that trust must be earned – no one is disputing that.

At least, look at any company or individual in the world who is trusted for delivering consistent results. You’ll soon see that the unwavering belief in what they offer didn’t happen overnight.

Earning trust

For instance, when you make your way through the drive-through at McDonald’s, you know what you’re going to get as the company has been making Big Macs since 1967.

Similarly, when you buy a BMW, you know that you’re going to enjoy a premium drive as the company is renowned for making luxury vehicles. Equally, if you’re looking for reputable online casinos then you’re going to turn to Casino Alpha who have become the authoritative voice on where to play with confidence.

While the list of dependable companies is a long one, the wider point is that a track record of repeated success should normally be enough to earn trust.

In football, however, it does feel like a manager is only as reliable as their last game.

This result of a never-ending hire-and-fire merry-go-round is that fans have developed an insatiable appetite for knee-jerk reactions.

This was evident when calls for Pochettino to be sacked reached deafening decibels in March as supporters openly sang about the Argentine leaving while serenading ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho during a 2-2 draw with Brentford.

However, since the nadir of Pochettino’s reign, Chelsea have taken 26 points from a possible 36; a run that has ensured that Chelsea will play in the Europa League next season after finishing sixth in the Premier League.

Keep the faith

When you consider that the Blues finished 12th last campaign with 44 points and have now accumulated almost 20 more in the Argentine’s first season in charge, this has to be viewed as progress. Importantly, this improvement should also earn Pochettino the trust of the fans – the results are there in black and white.

Indeed, Pochettino has Chelsea on a trajectory that warrants faith in him as he seeks to return the Blues to the summit of English football. Buying into his project will return long-term dividends, fans just need to take the plunge and place their belief in him.