EPL: Pochettino bemoans Chelsea defeat at Newcastle

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino labelled his side "soft" after a 4-1 defeat to a depleted Newcastle on Saturday left the Argentine enraged.

The Blues looked to have turned a corner in Pochettino's first season in charge with a 4-1 win at Tottenham and a memorable 4-4 draw against champions Manchester City before the international break.

But the visitors crumbled in the second half at St. James' Park as Newcastle overcame an injury crisis that had left Eddie Howe without 13 first-team players.

Pochettino said after the game: "We had to come here, Chelsea, to show that it's going to be difficult for them to play, to win the game and to beat us. But it was really easy in the way that we conceded and the way that we were so soft in every single challenge. We didn't show that we were playing for something important.”

"That's what makes me angry and disappointed. We talk about that we are a young team and we have to learn, but I think these type of games make me very, very, very, very, very angry because it's about showing your personality and character," he added.

Defeat leaves Chelsea down in 10th in the table despite spending over £1 billion on new players in less than two years under the ownership of Todd Boehly's consortium.