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.
New attacking setup with a proper striker
Chelsea has struggled to find a settled attacking unit for a while. They have also failed to fill the striker void despite several attempts. The signing of Romelu Lukaku was supposed to solve this problem, just like the Havertz experiment. The Blues have struggled for goals for the past few seasons, and no manager has been able to find a proper system. Pochettino has to find goals, and he needs to do it through a new attacking setup.
The first step would be to sort out the striker situation. This will probably include getting rid of Lukaku (or consider him?) and getting a new striker. According to reports, the club is close to signing Nicolas Jackson from Villareal, but it is doubtful that Chelsea will go into the season with him as the starting striker. There are questions about the roles of Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana. Both strikers have immense potential, and how Pochettino uses the two remains to be seen.
On the wings, the Blues have immense talent waiting to be unleashed. Players like Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke are potential future stars, and the new manager will have to find a way to get the best out of them. He must show confidence in the young talent and give them consistent starts. They showed flashes of their potential last season, and Pochettino can truly unlock their potential by using them in a new system.
Build a new midfield around Enzo Fernandez
The midfield that won the Champions League with Chelsea will be gone next season. Jorginho left in January, Kante left for Saudi Arabia, and Kovacic is on his way out to Manchester City. This marks the end of an era in Chelsea’s midfield and the beginning of a new chapter with Enzo Fernandez at the forefront.
The Argentine signed for the Blues for a world record fee and seemed unfazed in the Premier League. He did not seem to feel the pressure of the price tag, nor did he struggle with the ways of English Football. He was one of the few bright spots for Chelsea in a poor season.
Currently, Chelsea has Connor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount as partners for Fernandez in midfield. According to several reports earlier this month, Loftus-Cheek was on his way to Milan, but the interest seems to have cooled off. Mount’s situation is unique, and it appears that he won’t extend. Considering these factors, Chelsea needs to find new midfielders to partner Fernandez.
Pochettino must consider giving a chance to the likes of Andrey Santos and Cesare Casadei. They were excellent at the U20 World Cup and were amongst the tournament stars that caught everyone’s eye. However, it is fair to say that Chelsea cannot depend on these young talents for the season. The management will have to look at defenders in the market. Players like Moises Caicedo have been linked to the Blues, and the club will have to carefully sign the right players and build the midfield around Fernandez.