The international break couldn’t have come at a better time for Chelsea and manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea have not gotten off to the best start this season with Mauricio Pochettino already feeling the heat. Transforming the Blues was always going to be an uphill task for the Argentinean, considering the mess they were in when he was appointed as the new manager in May.
Injuries to key players, mounting problems on the pitch and off it, and poor form have left the West London club 12th in the table after four games. After drawing 1-1 with Liverpool at home, Pochettino’s side have won just once and lost two in their following three games. They beat Luton Town 3-0 comfortably but have fallen to defeats to West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
The shock 1-0 defeat to Forest before the international break further highlighted the difficult job Pochettino has on his hands at Stamford Bridge. With that being said, here are three issues facing Pochettino as he tries to turn Chelsea’s fortunes around after a dismal start to a season of such promise.
- Injury crisis
In mitigation, Pochettino has been hit with a glut of injuries to key players, with more sidelined during this international break.
New recruit Christopher Nkunku fell to a long-term injury in the pre season, while Romeo Lavia arrived from Southampton with a lack of match fitness and hasn’t featured so far. Now, a new injury concern may keep the Stamford Bridge faithful waiting for their first glimpse of Lavia.
Pochettino is already having to contend with a lengthy injury list, which includes skipper Reece James and Armando Broja. Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Marcus Bettinelli and Carney Chukwuemeka are all recovering from their own issues, whereas Wesley Fofana is out for an extended period after suffering a serious knee problem again.
To make matters worse, Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Mudryk was forced off with a calf issue in the 1-1 draw with England in the 2024 Euro qualifiers on Saturday, with the winger a doubt for Chelsea’s visit to Bournemouth.
- Nicolas Jackson’s struggles in front of goal
Chelsea have managed just five goals from their opening four games. They scored a paltry 38 goals last season, and to address the goalscoring woes, Pochettino brought in Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in the summer.
How many goals does Jackson have to register in his debut Premier League campaign to make Pochettino’s side contenders for a European spot? Although the Senegalese’s €37m outlay means a return of at least 10-15 goals seems a fair demand, this may be a touch unrealistic for a youngster in a first campaign in England.
Jackson had a good pre-season tour with the Blues but he has failed to transform that form into the Premier League, scoring just once in four games. He was guilty of a huge miss as Chelsea lost 1-0 to Forest at Stamford Bridge. And questions are already arising over whether the Senegal international has enough experience to lead the Chelsea attack going forward.
All in all, Jackson needs developing after his breakout campaign in La Liga last year. Factor in Broja and Nkunku’s injuries and Jackson will need to start delivering the goods after the international break or Pochettino could be in trouble.
- Moises Caicedo yet to shine
Chelsea beat Liverpool to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton in a £115million deal last month, thereby, breaking the British transfer record. However, Caicedo’s initial outings for the Blues have been nothing short of a nightmare, with the defensive midfielder conceding a late penalty in his team’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham.
The Ecuador international’s performances have been subpar and riddled with errors as his transfer fee potentially weighs heavily on his young shoulders. Across three outings in a Chelsea shirt, the 21-year-old has only tasted victory once—against newcomers Luton Town.
Understandably, Caicedo has come under intense scrutiny from supporters and pundits quickly as more is expected of him after Chelsea broke the bank for his services. With a trip to Bournemouth to come straight after the international break, it is imperative that Pochettino ignites a fire in Caicedo’s belly and motivates him to regain his form.