How has Mauricio Pochettino got Chelsea firing after early-season slump?

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Published: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 3:24 PM

Last updated: Mon 13 Nov 2023, 3:47 PM

By Reuben Rosso-Powell, PA

Mauricio Pochettino’s start to life as Chelsea manager has been somewhat of a mixed bag with the Blues lying 10th after 12 games of the Premier League season.

A recent 4-1 win at title-chasing Tottenham and draws against Arsenal and Manchester City suggest the Blues are beginning to turn a corner after taking only five points from their first six league games.

Here, the PA news agency breaks down Chelsea’s season so far under Pochettino.

West Ham United v Chelsea – Premier League – London Stadium — Record-signing Moises Caicedo’s debut did not go to plan at the London Stadium after Chelsea lost 3-1 to West Ham (John Walton/PA) Photo by John Walton

Chelsea’s unbeaten pre-season form did not translate to the Premier League where they struggled to pick up points in the early stages. An opening day 1-1 draw to Liverpool was followed by a 3-1 defeat at West Ham before the Blues went winless in their next three against Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Aston Villa. The 1-0 defeat at home to Villa saw Pochettino call for his players to “grow up” after the Blues’ stuttering start saw the pressure mount on their Argentinian manager.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — Chelsea invested heavily in young players during the summer window (John Walton/PA) Photo by John Walton

All of Chelsea’s 12 summer signings are aged 25 and under as chairman Todd Boehly looked to recruit youth as a solution to last season’s poor performances, which led to a dismal 12th-place finish in the Premier League. The upheaval to the squad in the summer led to the Blues’ early teething problems as Pochettino juggled formations and XIs in a bid to find his preferred personnel.

Burnley v Chelsea – Premier League – Turf Moor — Cole Palmer has scored four times in the Premier League (Richard Sellers/PA) Photo by Richard Sellers

Cole Palmer has been a mainstay in Chelsea’s XI since his September transfer from Manchester City. The winger, who has also featured as an attacking midfielder, cost a reported £42.5 million and has scored four times from the spot against Burnley, Arsenal Spurs and a last-minute equaliser in Sunday’s 4-4 draw against his old club City. Palmer’s creativity has helped Nicolas Jackson unlock his goalscoring touch, with the Senegal striker netting four times in his last two appearances.

The west London club have picked up six points in four games against the so-called ‘big six’, which is an improvement on the four points they managed across the whole of last season against their rivals. Although Chelsea have had success against high-pressing opposition, they still need to find solutions to combat low blocks after their recent 2-0 defeat to Brentford at Stamford Bridge.