Pochettino 'planning for next season' and wants to 'create real feelings'

Mauricio Pochettino says he is "planning for next season" at Chelsea despite uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.

The Argentine manager has come under intense scrutiny at times during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge and before last weekend's 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest said it would "not be the end of the world" if he were to leave the Blues in the summer.

Asked about his future, he said: "We are planning. We are working. We cannot take some comment from my side [before the Forest game] in a negative way. Always I try to be positive and try to translate my feelings to the people.

"I never said I'm not thinking in the future. Already the plan is there to start pre-season. In the end, it's not in my hands to be here or not to be here.

"We [the coaching staff] are not fake people. We are not going to say we love something when we still don't have an emotional link. It's easy for me to arrive and after the first game start to kiss the badge. I respect the people who can do this, but it's not my nature. I want to create real feelings."

Since a home defeat by Wolves on Christmas Eve, only the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have collected more points than Pochettino's side, placing them in a good position to secure European football for next season.

"The problem is we are punished because of the first 10 games," he added.

"After our first 10 games, I think we are in the top four. That's the problem..

"Right now, [the conversation is] stuck, like the Coldplay song. Stuck in reverse. Stuck and going back. You remember the song? 'Fix You.'

"From now on, I'm going to stop talking about a young squad and injuries. I hope next season we can have all the players fit and be competitive, to fight between them for a place and [show they] deserve to be in the starting XI.

"I am dreaming of that."