![]() That is why it is about being strong in what we assess and be clever and take decisions to try to improve in the second part of the season, to be more competitive and get the results a club like Chelsea deserves.” ![]() “It’s not as easy to build something new. “That’s the reality - too many problems and circumstances from the beginning of the season. “It is a new project, a new team with too many circumstances against us,” Pochettino said. Shrewder purchases in the transfer market are surely needed, too. Pochettino said the Chelsea project funded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital required patience. Caicedo, in particular, has not reproduced the performances he had for Brighton last season. The only area where Chelsea has enviable quality is central midfield, yet the axis of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who cost around $275 million, combined - behind Conor Gallagher as the attacking midfielder has yet to fully gel. In goal, Robert Sanchez is somehow Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper having ended last season as Brighton’s No. Reece James, the newly appointed captain, was forced off against Everton with the latest in a long line of injuries - it was a hamstring issue this time - and left back Ben Chilwell is also currently sidelined through injury. Meanwhile, at the other end of the field, the defense is being held together by a 39-year-old, Thiago Silva, who had to be rested against Everton because it was Chelsea’s third game in a week.Ĭenter backs Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile were both plucked from French club Monaco this year but have yet to establish themselves. Plenty was expected of France striker Christopher Nkunku but he hasn’t been seen since sustaining a serious knee problem in preseason, while Armando Broja has been in and out because of injuries.Ĭhelsea managed 16 shots against Everton but only four were on target. Jackson’s finishing has been erratic and he has struggled to cope with the demands of leading the attack of a much-scrutinized team at such an early stage of his career. Pochettino has only had one fit senior striker to call on for most of this season - and that is Nicolas Jackson, a raw, 22-year-old Senegal international signed on the back of a strong second half of last season at Villarreal. The alarming thing is that Chelsea’s heavily transformed squad still looks short in key areas despite the huge outlay on 29 players since May 2022, mostly on long contracts to spread “amortization” costs of transfer fees.
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