3 Players that could help Chelsea find their form
By Malcom David
Over £1billion. That’s the amount spent by Chelsea Football Club on player transfers since the club’s takeover by Clear Lake Capital and Todd Boehly. In the club’s first full season under new ownership, the Blues finished 12th in a historically calamitous campaign. This new season was supposed to be different. The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, a manager known for his ability to bring the best out of younger teams brought optimism to a fanbase in dire need of it. Add quite an impressive preseason and the excitement within the Chels hopeful couldn’t have been more.
Yet, Chelsea find themselves 14th in the league after their 1-0 loss to Aston villa on Sunday. Of course, it doesn’t help that Pochettino has inherited an incomplete squad due to injuries notably to the likes of Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka and more. However, some of the Argentinian’s tactical decisions, willingness to play certain players out of position and starting XIs have come under question in the midst of underwhelming results. While the squad may be suffering from injuries, there are still players under Pochettino’s disposal that are being underutilized and can provide solutions to the problems that the Blues face at the moment.
Here are 3 players that could help Chelsea find their form.
1. Cole Palmer
Probably the most surprising signing of CFC’s summer spree was the arrival of 21-year-old Manchester City talent Cole Palmer. While there were links with numerous attacking midfield/winger targets such as the likes of Michael Olise and Mohammed Kudus, the Blues hierarchy decided to take the £45m gamble on Palmer.
Although the U21 England international primarily plays as a right winger, he’s displayed numerous times his ability to drift centrally and play as an attacking midfielder that can link up play. With the loss of both Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka to injury, it was expected that Palmer could easily slot in that No.10 role to fill the void in the Blues attack.
Yet in the three games he’s been available, Pochettino has instead opted to play Enzo Fernandez in that more advanced role. So far, it’s been obvious that the Argentinian does not have the skillset of a No.10 and is much better when dictating attacking play with his long-range passing from a deeper role in the midfield.