February 2nd 2024.
In a recent press conference, Mauricio Pochettino expressed his thoughts on Chelsea's current team and their need for a specific type of player. Despite the club's massive spending of £1 billion on new signings under their current owners, Pochettino believes that there is still a missing piece in their squad. He pointed out the need for someone who can effectively take set-pieces, a skill that was noticeably lacking in their recent 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.
Pochettino acknowledged the significant changes that have taken place at Stamford Bridge in the past year. With an almost entirely new team, he has faced the challenge of bringing them together and making them work as a cohesive unit. However, he admits that the squad is not yet complete and there is still a need for a player who can consistently excel in taking set-pieces.
The former Tottenham boss revealed that they work hard on set-pieces in training and have a team of specialists and analysts dedicated to improving their delivery. However, without a skilled player to take them, their success is limited. Pochettino mentioned Ben Chilwell as a potential candidate for set-piece taker, but he is still not considered a specialist in this area.
He emphasized the importance of having good takers for set-pieces, citing the success of teams like Wolves and Manchester City who have players with this skill. Pochettino also referenced the impact of a player like James Ward-Prowse for West Ham, who significantly improved their set-piece success rate. He believes that while hard work is essential, it ultimately comes down to the quality of the players on the pitch.
Pochettino knows firsthand the impact of a reliable set-piece taker, having seen the difference it made for West Ham before and after Ward-Prowse's arrival. He believes that football belongs to the players and not just the specialists, and having someone with this skill can greatly increase a team's chances of success.
Chelsea will have another opportunity to improve their set-piece performance in their upcoming match against Wolves on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. In other news, Pochettino named an 18-year-old Chelsea star as a potential striker option, and a former Manchester City advisor claims that the club is likely to fail Financial Fair Play regulations and face significant consequences. Stay updated on all the latest Chelsea news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us, and this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
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