Poch unfazed by questions over Chelsea future
Mauricio Pochettino says it would not be "the end of the world" if he were to leave Chelsea at the end of the season.
The Blues have lost just one of their past 12 matches in the Premier League, and thrashed West Ham United 5-0 in their most recent game to make it four home wins on the bounce.
Chelsea now sits in seventh place with a place in Europe next season within reach, but rumours continue to spread that Pochettino’s future at the club is not safe.
Pochettino stressed that he wants to be involved in the conversations about the club’s plans at the end of the season, which is when a decision will be made.
He said: "If we are happy, perfect. But it is not only if the owners are happy or the sporting directors happy ... You need to ask us also, because maybe [we] say, ‘we are not happy’ and we accept the situation, and we need to split.
“It is not going to be the first time the coaching staff at the end of the season decide to not keep going. But at this end, it is always the opposite way. It is always the owners or the sporting directors.
"If we split it’s not a problem, it will not be the end of the world."
At the other end of the table, Nottingham Forest boosted its survival hopes with a 3-1 win over already-relegated Sheffield United last weekend to move three points clear of the drop.
With Forest still not safe with two games to go, Nuno Espirito Santo admitted this was his toughest season as a manager so far.
"It’s been hard but I’m repeating myself. Since day one we embraced the challenge," Nuno said.
"There were a lot of things we were not expecting, but we dealt with them in the proper moment and in the right way. With the right attitude and working together, we can overcome the obstacles, and we have had a lot."
Chelsea has lost just one of its past 12 Premier League games (won six, drawn five), but it is winless in its past five away from home (draw four, lost one L1).
The Blues have won just two of their past 10 away league games against Forest (draw four, lost four), winning 1-0 in November 1994 and 3-1 in February 1999.
After its 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in September, Forest is looking to complete a first league double over Chelsea since 1978-1979, when it was reigning top-flight champion under Brian Clough.
Indeed, Forest has only lost its final home league match in one of its six previous Premier League campaigns (won four, drawn one), doing so against Sheffield United in 1992-1993 with a 2-0 defeat that confirmed its relegation.
Chelsea’s Premier League games have seen 129 goals this season, 70 four and 59 against, the third most after Sheffield United (135) and Newcastle (134). Only in 2009-2010 (135) have the Blues' games produced more goals (F103 A32).
