Chelsea icon Gianfranco Zola ‘surprised’ with Mauricio Pochettino transfer decision earlier in the summer
Former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola believes manager Mauricio Pochettino made mistakes allowing experienced stars like Cesar Azpilicueta and Jorginho to exit in the club’s summer clearout.
Over 40 players left Chelsea, either permanently or on loan, as the new ownership sought to trim a bloated squad. But Zola feels selling respected veterans Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kai Havertz, and Mateo Kovacic was ill-advised.
In an interview with The Times(h/t football.london), Zola exclaimed surprise at Pochettino’s decision to let go of the club’s seasoned veterans. He argued their departures robbed Chelsea’s young squad of crucial leaders to learn from and depend on during struggles.
“I am surprised so many experienced players left, My understanding is they are planning to build a team within the next three or four years but players left that were there a long time and that won a lot – [Cesar] Azpilicueta, Jorginho, [Kai] Havertz, [Mateo] Kovacic — players that probably everyone looked up to. You need those players. In difficult moments you rely on those players. So many left and that doesn’t help the situation.
While a squad overhaul made sense, Zola questioned the judgment of letting integral figures like Azpilicueta and Jorginho leave simultaneously. Their experience and guidance cannot be easily replaced. However, the Italian sympathized with Mauricio Pochettino’s difficulty integrating the 14 new signings this season, all under 25 without veterans to shepherd them.
Pochettino surely understood the challenge undertaking such sweeping changes presented. But selling respected leaders like Cesar Azpilicueta and Mateo Kovacic may prove costly without their stewardship.
Chelsea are going through a period of substantial change where they have put emphasis on nurturing young buds into world-class talents. This wholesale change was inevitable under new ownership. However, Zola implies retaining a core of seasoned players should have been a priority amidst the chaotic overhaul.
Their know-how helped Chelsea achieve past success. Casting them all out leaves Pochettino’s young squad rudderless when adversity hits. Youngsters Nicolas Jackson, Malo Gusto, Mykhailo Mudryk, and the rest are certainly having a hard time developing chemistry and cohesion.
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With fans’ patience already wearing thin, the lack of veterans to stabilize the team during struggles is concerning. Zola believes retaining respected voices could have eased Pochettino’s transitional first season. Experience certainly would have helped but for now, this is the hand that the Argentine has and it remains to be seen how he plays it.