BRIDGE SIGHS
Poch prepares to face music at home again
CHELSEA have not played for two weeks but the break has done little to provide respite for Mauricio Pochettino.
His team will run out at Stamford Bridge again today against the backdrop of a supporter civil war that broke out during the international break, adding to the discontent that has already been directed at Pochettino and club chiefs recently.
Chelsea’s injury problems increased too, leaving manager Pochettino 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 the Blues are languishing in 11th going into the final stretch of the season.
Their Premier League plight in particular has increased the spotlight on how co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are running the club, a subject splitting supporters.
But Pochettino insisted that, just like him and his players, the owners are keen to win the Premier League and join Europe’s elite.
The Argentine coach said: “I am going to support the owners that have invested in the club and arrived in a very difficult situation.
“They want to win the Premier League and be in the Champions League, like us.
“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.”
The Blues manager has also come under fire but simply said: “It is easy to find data and numbers to kill someone.”
He insists the underlying statistics suggest Chelsea have not got what they deserve and added: “That is why I laugh and don’t take it 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.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia has been ruled out for the season and Pochettino was unsure if James might join him or when France forward Christopher Nkunku might return.
On James, he said: “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, whose play-off winner against Iceland sealed Ukraine’s Euro 2024 spot.
Pochettino, who says the young winger is maturing, cited his progress as vindication of his own methods.
He said: “If we were any different, we might not be here today. I promise you would be talking to different coaches.”