Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has not been shy with an outlandish post-match comment this season. Sometimes, you get your standard generic replies, but when he is frustrated, a quote slips through the net that makes you question: ‘Did he really mean to say that?’
For the sake of balance, he was completely correct when saying that his Chelsea squad are “immature”. It may not have necessarily been in the context that some perceived it to be, yet it was entirely true.
But when Pochettino was questioned on the absence of Cole Palmer at his press conference following the 5-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Tuesday night, the Argentine came out with a line that would have been impactful on one of his younger crop who is desperate for a chance back in the team.
What did Pochettino say?
“He is the only player we have, a playmaker who links all the lines in the team. When you miss a player like this, it is not easy to replace.”
Granted, Palmer has the potential to be an absolute superstar. In terms of footballing intelligence and not just being reliant on physical attributes, he is so far above the rest of this Chelsea squad that it exposes the flaws in the methods of the club’s recruitment strategy. Last night also showed that Chelsea’s decision-makers should lower their optimism over bridging the gap to the top four. Champions League qualification is not happening anytime soon.
Yet there was a player sitting in the away dugout at the Emirates Stadium wondering what he has to do to be provided with another start in a Chelsea starting lineup that features a consistent trio of players in the engine room that are producing inconsistent results. This was even before Pochettino uttered a sentence that does not bode well for his Chelsea future.
Carney Chukwuemeka began this season in the Chelsea XI, the selection hinting that Pochettino is an admirer of what the England Under-20 international can bring to the table. He impressed against Liverpool and scored at West Ham United, before disaster struck as he suffered a knee injury that prevented him from earning another Premier League appearance until January 13.
Since then, the 20-year-old has not played more than 24 minutes in a single top-flight fixture, that coming at Liverpool when Chelsea were already 3-0 down. Within five minutes of his introduction, he had instigated a well-worked goal for Christopher Nkunku.
Chukwuemeka has since had issues with his fitness. An ankle injury and knock sustained while with England Under-21s halted his momentum, yet Pochettino has seemingly forgotten that it was “his run between the lines” that was Chelsea’s saviour in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester City in between those minor issues.
There is a difference between creating and converting chances between these lines that have become the topic of conversation, but Chukwuemeka has been limited to just 252 minutes of football this season and he has had a direct hand in three goals.
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