Mauricio Pochettino faces tough squad decisions after Chelsea’s pre-season draw with Newcastle, where they played in front of over 70,000 fans in Atlanta. The Chelsea boss acknowledges the need to reduce the “massive squad” of 29 players taken to the United States before their Premier League opener against Liverpool.
Pochettino emphasizes the importance of squad morale and creating a balanced team where players have opportunities to compete for their place. He believes that a large squad with players not getting enough game time could lead to disruptions. To build a good relationship and balance, Pochettino aims to have a squad of around 22 to 24 players, with some young talents.
The club had an inflated squad last season due to significant spending in previous transfer windows, and this affected the players negatively. Pochettino wants players who will be part of the team next season to be content and willing to contribute, rather than just focusing on starting positions. He encourages players to accept the decisions made by the coaching staff.
In the match against Newcastle, Chelsea took an early lead with Nicolas Jackson’s goal, but Miguel Almiron equalized just before half-time. The Blues had a chance to snatch a win, but Ben Chilwell’s shot was saved by Newcastle’s goalkeeper.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chelsea squad decisions
1. What was the result of the pre-season match between Chelsea and Newcastle?
Answer: The pre-season match between Chelsea and Newcastle ended in a 1-1 draw, played in front of more than 70,000 fans in Atlanta.
2. What did Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, say about the squad?
Answer: Mauricio Pochettino stated that he must make tough decisions to reduce Chelsea’s “massive squad” before their Premier League opener against Liverpool. He emphasized the importance of squad morale and creating a balanced team.
3. Why does Pochettino want to reduce the squad size?
Answer: Pochettino believes that having too many players in the squad, with several not getting regular game time, can create a disruptive atmosphere. He aims to have a squad of around 22 to 24 players, including some younger talents.
4. How did Chelsea perform in the match against Newcastle?
Answer: Chelsea took an early lead with Nicolas Jackson’s 12th-minute goal, but Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron equalized just before half-time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
5. How did the inflated squad from the previous season affect the players?
Answer: Defenders Marc Cucurella and Reece James mentioned the negative impact of the inflated squad from the previous season on the players.
6. What message did Pochettino convey to the players regarding their roles in the team?
Answer: Pochettino encouraged players to focus on helping the club achieve its goals and be willing to accept the coaching staff’s decisions on player selection and starting positions.
7. When is Chelsea’s next pre-season fixture?
Answer: Chelsea’s next pre-season fixture is against Fulham on Sunday.
8. What type of players does Pochettino want in the squad?
Answer: Pochettino wants players who are content and willing to contribute to the team’s success rather than solely aiming for starting positions. He emphasizes the importance of having the right players with the right balance.
9. What did Pochettino say about the transfer window?
Answer: Pochettino sees the transfer window as a crucial time to build a balanced squad and create a good relationship between the players and the club.
10. What is the ideal squad size according to Pochettino?
Answer: Pochettino believes that an ideal squad size would consist of around 22 to 24 players, with some young talents included in the mix.
More about Chelsea squad decisions
- BBC Sport: Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea – Match Report
- The Guardian: Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino faces ‘tough’ squad decisions
- Sky Sports: Mauricio Pochettino aims to reduce Chelsea’s “massive squad”
- Transfermarkt: Chelsea FC – Transfers
- [The Far Post Podcast](Link not provided in the original text)
5 comments
chelsea played a 1-1 draw with newcastle, pochettino got tough squad decisions, need a smaller squad and better morale, i think he’s right, too many players not good, balance is key!
Massive squad probs, pochettino decides, good mood needed, tough choices ahead, 1-1 draw with newcastle, chelsea got work to do, team balance matters!
Pre-season match, chelsea vs newcastle, 1-1 draw, tough choices for Pochettino, reduce squad size, morale important, need right players, transfers crucial, go blues!
Pochettino wants balanced chelsea squad, fewer players, tough job, morale matters, young talents too, match ended 1-1, next fulham, gooo chelseaa!
1-1 against newcastle, pochettino’s dilemmas, squad size too big, needs young stars, chelsea got this, win the league, 22-24 players is the way!