Bullish Chelsea boss Pochettino admits he 'needed' their last-gasp FA Cup win

Mauricio Pochettino said he 'needed' this FA Cup win delivered by Conor Gallagher, adding that Chelsea proved they are 'brave' despite what Gary Neville and Co may say.

Gallagher's 90th-minute winner kept them in the competition which could yet save this season – and potentially Pochettino his job – as it would also guarantee European football next campaign.

They will face Championship outfit Leicester in the quarter-finals and returning to the topic of the 'bottlejobs' jibe, Pochettino said: 'It is not fair to use this type of word for a team that is so brave.

'What can we do? Only with this type of performance, show that we are brave. Why we lost the game against Liverpool is nothing to do with this.

'We know we are brave, that we are working really hard, and, look, if people want to be around and around and around this comment, for us it is not important.

'It is only sorry, you were wrong, but look, nothing to say. I respect his opinion and that's it and we won.'

Pochettino is under pressure amid Chelsea's stuttering season and added: 'We needed this result. It wasn't a great performance. We created too little because it is a team full of confidence – a very, very, very strong team.

'When you concede after a few minutes, the character we showed after this situation, it is a thing to learn from the team.'

On Gallagher, who could be sold this summer as Chelsea look to balance their books, Pochettino said: 'He is an important player and that is no doubt.'