BLUES FIRED UP WITHOUT COLE
MAURICIO POCHETTINO wants his stars to show they play for Chelsea FC not Cole Palmer FC if their main man is missing tonight.
Palmer (above) is a doubt for the Chelsea’s London derby trip to title-chasing Arsenal due to illness.
Since his full debut in late September 20-goal talisman Palmer has been a near ever-present for the Blues, leaving Pochettino safe in the knowledge he can rely on the youngster’s presence as well as his huge quality.
Palmer, 21, has faced a challenge for the limelight at times this season, with team-mates trying to wrestle penalty taking duties away from him on more than one occasion. But they may get their chance to shine in his absence at the Emirates.
Pochettino, who admitted he is unsure who will assume spotkick responsibilities, said: “It’s a good challenge for the teammates of course. If I am a team-mate of Cole Palmer in his position or a similar position, for sure, I am going to be motivated to go there and show this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer Football Club.
“It is a good example for them why is he doing so well and why are they not capable to do the same.
“They are not jealous. They only want the same pill we provide Palmer! It’s a joke! They ask what you are doing for Palmer, we want the same.”
Pochettino also defended Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo ahead of a potential three-way battle of the £100million-plus midfielders with Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Former Blues youngster and target Rice has outshone the Chelsea pair since his £105m switch from West Ham last summer.
Pochettino said: “Declan Rice was playing for West Ham for I don’t know how many years, with the experience and as an English guy knowing the Premier League and knowing the language.”
On Argentine Fernandez, Pochettino said: “There are too many negative things that happened. The positive is he won the World Cup and moved to Chelsea (in January 2023 for £106m) but other aspects have made it difficult for him to adapt and to perform so quickly.
“There is no doubt this season was the season to know what it means to play in the Premier League, how tough it is and to know the culture, the environment, the language and to adapt better for the future.”
Meanwhile, so far £115m Caicedo has underwhelmed at Chelsea too.
And, not for the first time this season, one of his tackles forced an opponent off injured at Wembley.
Manchester City star Jack Grealish went the same way as Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and Liverpool’s
Ryan Gravenberch earlier in the campaign.
Pochettino added: “In all these situations he was a little bit more anxious or nervous about performing, to maybe push himself to go to the edge, the limit.
“But I think now it is much better. He is more calm, relaxed, and we are happy with the way he was.”