Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he’s unsure what Chelsea’s sporting directors think of his performance in the dugout.

The Argentine is under pressure after a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday and having been knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend.

The Blues’ hopes of qualifying for Europe are in serious doubt and a trophyless season is guaranteed, while Chelsea are also suffering a 12-player injury crisis despite Cole Palmer’s return for the trip to Aston Villa.

When asked whether he has the full trust of the club’s sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, Pochettino said: “That’s a good question for them if you have the opportunity to ask them.

“But it’s not a subjective idea of us [that we have problems] - it is the reality. Okay, that is a point: if we are [considered] responsible, we are responsible.

“Maybe we are not responsible in this situation. I cannot answer the question because, to be honest, I don’t know what they are thinking.”

The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager also confirmed that he has not had contact with Chelsea’s owners Todd Boehly or Behdad Eghbali in recent weeks.

Although he accepts some criticism, Pochettino feels that the club’s recruitment, structure and injury problems are ultimately beyond his control.

“My responsibility is that the team performs,” he added. “But of course, the club is designing and planning a structure that you need to prove works. Because of the results, you can say it’s just [the manager].

“But I don’t have the key to the club. I don’t make all the decisions here. That is to be made clear. If you say to me I have the key and this guy is here because it’s my decision, that is one thing.

“But if this is not my decision you need to judge me and judge him in his job, no? Because it’s not my direct responsibility.”

He added: “Of course, we are always open to help in all the ways because we want the best for the club. We want the best for the sporting directors, owners, players and our fans.

“We are a coaching staff that has a big commitment to the project and club.”

There is a growing sense that Pochettino is unsure how the Chelsea bosses will react to the club’s underperformance this season, as the club had expected to challenge for Champions League qualification and potentially win a piece of silverware.

“Football is about supporting each other, trusting each other, and having confidence in each other,” he explained.

“We need to trust the players, and they need to trust in us. The owners need to trust in us, trust in our vision and view. The sporting directors need to understand that we are the people dealing directly with the players, performance and medical staff.

“It happens in clubs that are well and winning titles, they are working in this way. It is about having trust and having a vision that this is the way we need to operate and work.”

When asked if he should have more involvement in transfers, he added: “I don’t know. That is a thing that we need to talk [about]. We will see. Still, we need to finish the season, and like I said before, I am open.

“We love to be here. We are so happy. But of course, we are open to helping the club in any way they want.”