TOXIC WASTE
Supporter civil war is the latest problem for under-fire Blues
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
CHELSEA have not played for two weeks but that period out of the spotlight has done little to provide respite for Mauricio Pochettino.
His team (Cole Palmer, bottom right) will run out at Stamford Bridge again today against the backdrop of a supporter civil war, which broke out during the international break, adding to the discontent that has already been directed at Pochettino and his Blues bosses recently.
And Chelsea’s injury problems increased, too, leaving the manager admitting he is unsure if captain Reece James will play again this season and, cryptically, that he cannot explain publicly why his squad has been so badly decimated this season.
That issue is a major reason why Chelsea are languishing in 11th place going into the final stretch of the season.
Their Premier League plight in particular has increased the spotlight on how Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are running the club, a subject splitting supporters.
Pochettino said: “I am going to support the owners that have invested in the club and arrived in a very difficult situation.
“We need to understand the fans but our personalities are to keep strong because the intention is very good. Our fans need to understand it is a new project with different ideas.
“They (the owners) want to win the Premier League and be in the Champions League – like us.” Pochettino has been targeted, too, and said: “It is easy to find data and numbers to kill someone.”
But he also insists the underlying stats suggest Chelsea have not got what they deserve and said: “That is why I laugh and don’t take it (criticism) personally. We must trust the process.”
Injuries have undermined that.
Robert Sanchez,
Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka picked up new issues ahead of
Burnley’s visit. Along with Levi Colwill, though, there is a chance Chalobah will be
fit.
Romeo Lavia has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Pochettino was unsure if James might join him and when Christopher Nkunku might return.
On James, he said: “It’s difficult to say something because I don’t want you to go, ‘But oh (you said this)’. We will assess it week by week. We hope he will be available for the end of the season.”
One positive during the break was a huge goal for Mykhailo Mudryk (left), whose play-off winner against Iceland sealed Ukraine’s Euro 2024 spot.
Pochettino is seeing the young winger “mature” and cited his progress as vindication of his methods.
He added: “Because of how we are helping the club (develop young players), if we were any different we might not be here today.
“I promise you would be talking to different coaches.”