Moses Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Axel Disasi, Nicholas Jackson, Robert Sanchez…and we could continue naming footballers ad nauseum. An infinite number of names that translate into a stratospheric amount of millions paid out in summer. What seemed to be the hope of a Chelsea who aspired to improve last season’s poor performance, became a ‘nightmare’ for the newcomer Mauricio Pochettino.
To everyone’s surprise, Chelsea’s ‘machine’ it didn’t start because its pieces were not well meshed. And when a team ‘gets rid’ of practically all of its players and introduces too many new faces, it usually takes a while for it to work.
A DISAPPOINTING START
Just eight victories in 20 days of the Premier. Having lost eight and tied four. Some very poor numbers for a team that was trying to re-emerge in the Premier with all the firepower it had acquired in the summer transfer market.
And if we continue talking about numbers, it is not surprising at all to see how Chelsea is so many points behind the other teams in the ‘Big Six’ when they have scored 34 goals in favor and have received 31 in the first half of the season. While City (45:21), Liverpool (39:16), Arsenal (36:18), Tottenham (39:28) and company have a much more favorable balance sheet.
Without a doubt, these statistics show that Mauricio Pochettino is not living his best moment in London.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
However, as the saying goes, ‘Better late than never‘, the blue team has given a step forward and sum two consecutive victories in the Premier, something that has not happened since last month Octoberwhen they reaped six points in a row against Fulham y Burnley.
On this occasion, they achieved victory ‘in extremis’ at Stamford Bridge against the Crystal Palace with the goal of Noni Madueke, and left Kenilworth Road alive after overcoming the final offensive of a Luton that succumbed 0-3 and was about to tie the game with goals from Barkley and Adebayo.
Of course, despite the good results, Pochettino’s team is playing football that does not convince and that is capable of log off at specific moments of the game, as happened on Saturday against Luton. But there are certain footballers who are showing a great level and they have become the great hope of the Argentine coach.
COLE PALMER
He landed in London from Manchester City for 47 million euros to be able to hone his skills as a footballer, and he is being one of the names of the Premier this season. He supported the team against Luton participating in all the goalsmarking two of them and providing assistance in the other.
Cole Palmer celebrates his goal against Luton / Instagram
And not only was he shown a great level against the newly promoted, but he is already awarded eight goals and has distributed four assists in the 17 games he has played in the domestic competition. From his boots they have even come out 63 actions that have ended in shots on goal, having finished eight of them in goal. With these statistics he is the footballer of the Chelsea what more dangerous actions has created throughout the course.
CONOR GALLAGHER
Nineteen starts in nineteen games. And four assists. It may not seem like much, but it can boast of being the only player of the five big leagues which has more than 20 shots, more than 20 actions created, more than 20 one-on-one overcomes, more than 20 touches in the rival area, more than 20 duels won, more than 20 tackles and more than 20 interceptions.
Conor Gallagher celebrates his place in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup / Instagram
With these statistics, which usually go unnoticed, he has become one of Pochettino’s regulars this season.
NONI MADUEKE
The big reveal In these last days. His life has taken a hectic turn. And she has gone from being expendable for Pochettino to be one of the ‘heroes’ of the team. Until the match against Palace, Madueke had only played seven gameswithout having been holder in none from them. Although it is also true that he missed several appointments due to injury.
Noni Madueke scored the winning goal against Palace / Instagram
But the Argentine coach opted for him in the starting eleven against the ‘Eagles’ and the Englishman took advantage of his opportunity. He scored practically on the horn the goal that broke the tie and that provided about three points that were worth gold. He would ‘wet’ again before the Lutonscoring 0-2 after a great individual action cutting with both legs to send a whiplash that would go straight into the net.
Now, and with these players at a high level, Chelsea’s next ‘challenge’ is to beat the Fulham next January 13 to extend their streak and start looking up the table.
2024-01-02 16:36:25
#Dose #optimism #Pochettino
