The reason why Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea sporting director attended Brighton vs Roma clash

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed suggestions that he was on a transfer scouting mission at Brighton's Europa League Round of 16 tie against Roma on Thursday evening. Pochettino could be seen sitting in the stands at the Amex Stadium alongside Chelsea sporting director Paul Winstanley on the live TV coverage of the European clash that the Seagulls won 1-0.

The Blues and Brighton have concluded a number of deals in recent years, including the signings of Marc Cucurella and Moises Caicedo, who are now part of the head coach's squad in west London. Winstanley himself had also made the move between Brighton and Chelsea in November 2022 after enjoying great success on the transfer front on the south coast in his head of recruitment position.

With Pochettino enduring such a mixed first campaign in SW6, the summer is once again going to be a key period for Chelsea with incomings and outgoings needing to take place in order to reshape his squad. Amid the speculation over Pochettino and Winstanley's presence at the Amex on Thursday evening with many assuming it to be transfer related, the Blues boss had his reasons for watching Brighton and Roma in action.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie against Leicester City, the 52-year-old revealed that he was actually at the Amex to take a look at Brighton ahead of Chelsea's match against the Seagulls on Saturday, April 20.

«No it's not my job to scout,» explained Pochettino. «We wanted to go as in three weeks we play Brighton in Brighton. It was a good opportunity to watch live football because we don't have time and we love to watch football live. It was a great opportunity as it's only 45 minutes from here in Cobham so we