While the Blues won the game 4-2, fans were incensed at Sterling taking a penalty instead of Cole Palmer and proceeding to miss.
On how Sterling dealt with the boos, Pochettino stated: I think I cannot hide nothing. You know, I think you are like me that the feelings weren't good for him and, but I'm going to support him and we are all we are going to. I think he was great, today is a great opportunity to support, to support him.
He has an unbelievable CV, like a player he has played in a big teams, experienced player, of course, today missed the penalty and some chances.
But look, I think I am happy with him and we are going to support and I see the chances we have, I think the chances to show that we are building something because I think we are going to support him and for sure we are going to get the lead on the game that he needs to help the team.
And of course, and that is my decision like always, you know, to play with 11 player and choose my player. Always talking about my feelings and the performance, always doing the best for the for the team and for the club and of course for the fans and of course it is keep going, being strong and believing in the, in the way that we are doing the things."
He then added on fans booing their players: Yes, but I think yes, we need to accept, you know, we need to accept, we need to accept the situation.
Like when I tried to explain the situation on the squad, I try to explain, maybe I need to explain also the fans, I said, we need to accept, it doesn't mean that we are agree or not agree, but we need to accept because our fans, all the fans in football live about the expectation, a lot about elation and I know they want the best for the club and for the player.
But of course, when you know the expectation and that is the difficult thing for our fan to understand, you know. But I was talking in the past also, I am strong, I have no problem, you know, we are going to keep moving in the same direction and of course, we want to create better and more. I cannot lie.
I hope next game our fans be always unconditional in behind the team because we are representing the Chelsea and the player also, they want to give the best for the, for the club and for the fans because I think the player cannot play badly or you know, but I think we are in a process that we want to, to make happy our fans.
And we are going to try hope, hope that we can create until to the end of the season, a good connection with the fans.
And yes, I'm not going to criticize the fans never because I think they are entitled to say what they want."