Mauricio Pochettino will be managing Chelsea this season as the Blues prepare to return to winning ways. There are a number of issues with the current Chelsea squad and Pochettino will need to pay attention to a few things immediately. This includes a bloated squad, outgoing senior players, a young core and attacking woes. Here is a look at 3 things the Argentine manager will have to do immediately at Chelsea.
3 things Mauricio Pochettino must do at Chelsea
Develop Chelsea’s young defence
Chelsea’s defence has been over-reliant on Thiago Silva for the past few campaigns. The board signed some exciting talent last summer in the form of Wesley Fofana, for a world record fee, and Benoit Badiashille. Fofana struggled slightly with injuries, while Badiashille could not feature in the Champions League due to the bloated squad.
However, both players had some bright moments in what was a gloomy season. Their performances showed they have the right skill set to play at the heart of Chelsea’s defence for years. The addition of Levi Colwill to the squad is exciting. The young center back had an excellent season at Brighton on loan, and he looks set to be a part of Chelsea’s squad.
He had been sought after by many big clubs from all over Europe. The new staff must ensure that Colwill is handled correctly and given enough time to show his worth. Pochettino must cultivate these young defenders and give them consistent game time on the pitch.
This season is expected to be Silva’s last season at Stamford Bridge, and Cesar Azpilicueta is already on his way out. Koulibaly has also left for Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, the fullback positions look good for the season, with Malo Gusto coming in to provide reinforcements on the right.
Chelsea’s defenders have struggled for fitness for a while now, and that is another area the new manager and his team will have to focus upon. Ben Chilwell and Reece James struggled with injuries last season and did not feature regularly. Chelsea’s attack gets a new dimension when the pair feature together, and Pochettino will need them fit throughout the season.