Chelsea recently experienced a rollercoaster of results, securing a dramatic comeback victory against Manchester United but then faltering against Burnley and Sheffield United.
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, expressed his concern about the team’s inconsistency, suggesting that they lack the maturity required to maintain high performance levels when playing matches every three days.
Despite their thrilling win over Manchester United, Chelsea couldn’t capitalize on the momentum, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Sheffield United, with Oli McBurnie’s late goal denying them three points.
This disappointing result came after dropping points against Burnley, leaving Chelsea unable to close the gap on the teams above them in the Premier League standings.
Pochettino highlighted the team’s struggles to compete effectively, especially in matches against lower-ranked opponents.
He dismissed fatigue as an excuse, emphasizing the need for Chelsea to address their issues and maintain consistency in their performances.
“Watching football at 52 years old, you identify very quick when the team is ready to compete.
“Maybe [it is] because this group is not mature enough to compete in games every three days.”
Since the takeover by Clearlake Capital, Chelsea has embarked on an extravagant spending spree, surpassing £1 billion across four transfer windows. Recent reports suggest that their latest spree was focused solely on acquiring players aged 25 and under, as part of a broader strategic approach.
Consequently, Mauricio Pochettino, the third permanent manager appointed during this ownership period, finds himself leading one of the youngest squads in Europe.
Pochettino attributes the team’s inconsistent performances to its youthful composition and advocates for additional investment in the upcoming summer transfer window to tackle the team’s challenges effectively.
“It is a new team with profiles in the squad that we are learning,” said the Chelsea boss. “That is why the process to build a team always takes time. It is not a magic thing [clicks fingers].
“When we talk about projects, we talk about three or five years. It is a normal process but we are working to fix this type of problem.
“When we arrive at the end of the season, we need to analyse the squad to see what we are missing and try to add people with the capacity to provide [solutions for] what we are seeing today.”
Analysis: Chelsea’s momentum short-lived
Chelsea’s response to their sensational triumph over Manchester United was eagerly anticipated, with many believing it would signify a turning point in the Mauricio Pochettino era. However, their visit to Bramall Lane painted a different picture. It seemed like a case of progress followed by regression as Chelsea once again dropped points to a team in the bottom three, mirroring their recent draw against Burnley. Sheffield United posed a significant threat, nearly clinching victory on Sunday.
In his post-match conference, Pochettino didn’t mince words, expressing his frustration at witnessing his team struggle against the Premier League’s weakest side after 31 games. Already, he’s shifting focus towards summer recruitment targets, a somewhat surprising move for a team still in contention for a Europa League spot.
Despite efforts to find solutions within the existing squad, Pochettino appears to believe that there are limitations to what can be achieved with the current player options, raising questions given the substantial investment made. The potential necessity to sell key players like captain Conor Gallagher to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules adds further uncertainty to Chelsea’s journey back to the top.