Mauricio Pochettino on how the lack of European football this season is beneficial for Chelsea
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino suggested the lack of European football this season actually benefits the Blues in one way. While our rivals slogged it out in all three European competitions earlier this week, our players had the opportunity to recover and recuperate.
Chelsea failed to qualify for UEFA’s European competitions this season as they finished 12th last season. In a press conference covered by football.london, Pochettino explained how the reduced schedule has temporarily helped amidst the club’s injury crisis.
“Yes because it’s about us recovering players from injury. The circumstance it is good to have time to work. It was a very good week, we worked very hard with the players we have.”
Without European matches congesting the calendar, Chelsea’s depleted squad had more time to regain fitness during training. However, Pochettino admitted the fans are understandably disappointed by the lack of continental action.
For the fans, of course it is difficult because usually Chelsea are involved in the competition.
The extra training time comes as Chelsea aim to recover bodies amidst a devastating injury list. An unprecedented 12 first-team players are currently sidelined along with the team captain Reece James.
The reduced workload enabled Pochettino to put more focus on integrating returning stars like Armando Broja and Moises Caicedo back into the fold. It also allowed proper preparation time for upcoming Premier League fixtures.
While benefiting injury recovery, missing Europe altogether remains a bitter pill for supporters of a club like Chelsea. But Pochettino is trying to find silver linings during a rocky period.
The Blues are performing poorly despite no European football
Chelsea are going through a transitional period where the club has chosen to focus on developing young blood rather than spending big on big names.
However, the start of this transitional period has been very worrying. Including the fact that 12 first-team players are currently out of action, the team has currently secured only 5 points in 5 games and is currently 14th in the Premier League standings. Furthermore, Chelsea’s attack has struggled mightily, only scoring twice in their five league matches excluding their 3-0 win against relegation-threatened Luton Town.
However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that first-team players like Caidedo, Broja, Noni Madueke, and Marc Cucurella are expected to return against Aston Villa according to Chelsea’s official website.
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If Chelsea can slowly get key players back to full fitness over the coming weeks, the short-term advantages of no European matches may pay dividends. A deeper and healthier squad would help Pochettino steer Chelsea out of their early-season struggles
For now, he will leverage the reduced schedule as an opportunity to continue rebuilding the depleted Blues.