Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino addresses Chelsea’s injury troubles
Chelsea’s boss Mauricio Pochettino has highlighted the importance of key players being unavailable by referencing Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri’s influence at Manchester City.
In an interview reported by Chelsea’s official website, Pochettino made the comments when discussing Chelsea’s injury issues and the impact they have had on the team’s performances so far this season.
“It’s always about building a team,’ It’s a young squad, a team that still need to to know each other. For that, you need to know each other and spend time together. It’s a big job from all the coaching staff but it is a thing that we love to do. We have many players injured, key players who cannot compete and train with us. That is so important.”
He pointed to Premier League reigning champions Manchester City as an example of how missing just one or two-star men can negatively affect a side.
“You can see how different it is for a club like Manchester City, how affected they are, when there is no Rodri of [Kevin] De Bruyne, and that’s only two players. For us, we miss many key players that can help us develop and improve the team faster. Yes, in this way, when we recover all the players, for sure we will be ready to compete for big things. Even now, we need to believe that we can compete for big things despite the circumstance”
The Argentine suggested Chelsea have been even harder hit, with several pivotal players in the treatment room.
Mauricio Pochettino believes having influential figures like Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, and Ben Chilwell back fit will be crucial to the Blues’ hopes of competing for major trophies.
The former Tottenham boss remains optimistic of what his squad can achieve once injury issues ease. But he implied Chelsea have so far been unable to reach their potential due to the unavailability of certain stars.
Pochettino has had to navigate a congested fixture list without key personnel in defence, midfield, and attack. The Blues have shown signs of improvement recently, buoyed by returning players.
Pochettino will hope the international break allows more of his side to regain fitness ahead of a pivotal period.
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Getting vital stars like James, and Romeo Lavia back to full strength can help close the gap to City’s level, even without huge transfers.
For now, Chelsea’s potential is restricted by untimely injuries. But Pochettino believes exciting times are ahead once his full arsenal of talent is unleashed.