Mauricio Pochettino has already singled out players in the Chelsea squad he hopes to influence positively when the Blues begin training for next season
Chelsea’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino has already identified three players in the Blues’ squad that he could help become better during his reign as boss.
Pochettino looking to improve Chelsea’s fortune
The Argentine took over from caretaker boss Frank Lampard after an extensive process to find a replacement for Graham Potter left Chelsea with the former Tottenham and PSG gaffer.
Pochettino has already set about his task as Chelsea’s new boss and identified three players who are currently not fulfilling their potential at the club, and whom he ca help become better versions of themselves during Chelsea’s training camp ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The Chelsea manager spoke to the club’s media team and outlined his plans for these three players, who could play pivotal roles for the Blues under him.
Pochettino has special plans for three players in particular
Pochettino first mentioned Chelsea’s record signing, Enzo Fernandez, who joined the Blues in a British record move for €121 million from Benfica shortly after being named the best young player as Argentina lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
"‘He’s young and energetic, but the young also need to rest, clean the mind. Also, he arrived at Chelsea not in the best circumstances. It’s difficult.
“He is still young and still needs to learn about the Premier League. The Premier League is a really tough competition and he [Fernandez] changes everything – culture, language, everything – and it is always difficult to adapt," Pochettino said about the most expensive player in the club’s history, adding that he thinks Fernandez now “knows what it is to be a Chelsea player, knows London, and is communicating better. We are going to help in all these aspects for him to grow and provide the team with his best.”
He also mentioned another of Chelsea’s expensive 2022/23 signings Mykhailo Mudryk, whom he wants to see during the team’s training camp in America.
“‘It is to understand the circumstances how he also arrived,” said Pochettino, adding, “I think it’s not the same mindset and everything is different in the life of Mudryk than Enzo. That is why for us it is really important to spend time to talk.
“I really like to see and to know him to try to decide with the staff the best strategy to help him to be at the level that I think Chelsea when they signed him expected him to be.”
Finally, Pochettino will also be aiming to improve the lot of former Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, who has not had the impact at the club that he hoped he would.
About Sterling, Pochettino said, "It's not always to blame the player... We need to see us and see what is going on and why they are not performing in the way that we expect and then, of course, when all is clear, we cannot give excuses to them to not perform."
Chelsea will be hoping that their new manager can help their expensively assembled team perform better than last season where they finished 12th in the Premier League in one of the worst campaigns in the club’s history.
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