Mauricio Pochettino has explained why he did not join his Chelsea players in doing a lap of honour around the Stamford Bridge pitch after the Blues beat Bournemouth.

Chelsea qualified for European football on Sunday with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

After the game, Thiago Silva was serenaded by his team-mates and spoke to fans on the pitch over the loudspeaker ahead of leaving the club this summer following four years at Chelsea. He will return to Brazilian club Fluminense.

While Chelsea’s players joined their families in doing a lap of honour around the pitch after Silva’s farewell speech, Pochettino was seen walking straight down the tunnel.

But the Argentine allayed fears of a disconnect between him and the fans by explaining why he did not join in with the lap of honour.

Asked why, he replied: “Because there was no time, because it was Thiago Silva [farewell]. Then, when the players started [to thank the fans], Adrian [Chelsea’s press officer] who is responsible said: ’You need to go inside.’”

Pochettino then joked: “Maybe now I’ll go and give a tour [round the pitch].”

Pochettino said of Chelsea’s fine end to the season: “I am happy for my staff and happy for my players. The way that they dealt with difficult circumstances to try to increase our levels, they deserve full credit.

“I am proud of the players. You could see that by [how] players that played more, less, were injured, came and hugged me. It was very, very, very nice. Sometimes we are tough on them, but we feel so proud.”