Count on Chelsea's Eu-roaring Success: Pochettino Confident!

Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, is of the opinion that the absence of European football this season will be beneficial for his team. Despite the challenges faced during the previous season, where Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League after winning the Champions League in 2021, Pochettino remains optimistic about leading the club back into European competition next season.

Chelsea, who are set to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, currently occupy the 12th spot in the table. The team has experienced a turbulent beginning to the season under manager Pochettino, partly due to injuries that hindered the Argentinean's initial period at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have amassed four points from their first four matches. Notably, they have been plagued by injury setbacks, with important players like full-back and captain Reece James, new striker Christopher Nkunku, and central defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile sidelined.

And although Pochettino acknowledges that the absence of European football this season brings some positivity to his side as they deal with an extensive list of injuries, he is firm in his belief that they will make a return to the European stage next season, given the quality of players he has in his squad.

Bournemouth

Chelsea

Sunday 17th September 1:00pm

Kick off 2:00pm

Considering the prevailing circumstances, it seems more prudent for us [to refrain from being in Europe], owing to the unfortunate fact that we currently have 11 or 12 players who are injured," he expressed. "Our utmost priority right now is to ensure their recovery and enhance our level of competitiveness.

"The involvement in European competition holds great significance for Chelsea, although the decision is beyond my control. It is the undeniable truth.

Undoubtedly, we will be participating in European competition in the upcoming season, given the exceptional quality we possess."

Chelsea have suffered defeats at West Ham and at home to Nottingham Forest in what has been a stuttering start to the season for Pochettino and his side.

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Pochettino feels that his team's performances in this season have warranted a greater number of points. The only positive moments for the Blues in the Premier League have been their victory against Luton and the draw with Liverpool on the first day. Despite the initial loss, Pochettino is confident that his team has displayed strong performances.

The team is set to play against Bournemouth on Sunday, hoping to secure just their second away win since March.

"The team had a strong performance in the initial month," Pochettino stated. "However, we did not achieve the points that we deserved. Our organization was commendable, and we adhered to our desired style of play. The players have faith in our approach."

We excel in possession and construction, but our weakness lies in scoring goals, which is essential in football. Our goal is to increase our level of competitiveness. We cannot afford to concede goals like the one we did against Nottingham. We need to strengthen our defense and become more resilient. We have experienced players who are capable of performing better.

Currently, I feel disheartened because we are performing well and demonstrating our ability to compete, even against teams like Liverpool. However, we need to further improve our competitiveness – I prefer to use this term rather than another word. We must become more tactically cunning and assertive.

"They lack niceness and need to improve their competitive abilities. Elevating our performance is not solely about our quality, but rather about our ability to compete diligently in every moment of the game. This necessitates taking appropriate action. As we continue to shape our team and find the right balance, it is inevitable that time will play a significant role.

I endeavor to explain why we did not secure the points that we rightfully deserved. There are occasions during the game where it becomes imperative to exhibit higher levels of quality and mental strength. This experience enables us to effectively navigate and respond to various circumstances. It is important to note that talent alone is not always sufficient."

Pochettino: We haven't got the points we deserve

: Reflecting on our recent loss in the Forest game, it is undeniably challenging to comprehend the efforts invested over the past two weeks in identifying the reasons behind it. However, we must refrain from pointing fingers at last season as the source of blame. Instead, it is imperative that we take responsibility and seek solutions within ourselves. Let us not dwell on the past or the lingering emotions from last season. We now find ourselves in a new era, where everything is fresh and filled with potential.

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Striker Nicolas Jackson, whom Chelsea signed in the summer to bolster their goal-scoring capabilities, has only managed to find the back of the net once in five matches across all competitions this season.

The 22-year-old has only managed to score one goal this season and failed to convert a great chance in his team's loss to Nottingham Forest. However, Pochettino acknowledges the need for Jackson to improve his finishing but remains confident that the goals will come soon. He remarked, "The performance in the match against Nottingham Forest was solid, except for his inability to find the back of the net."

As a striker, it is essential to focus on scoring or assisting. However, it is crucial to consider that Jackson is a young player who recently arrived from Spain. It is necessary for him to develop his confidence and trust and adapt to the Premier League.

Nonetheless, Jackson is already making significant contributions to the team and it is only a matter of time before he excels even further.

"He needs to be more clinical in front of goal but I think that is going to happen. No doubt he is a fantastic player."

Poch backs Jackson to shine

Nicolas Jackson's late miss in Chelsea's defeat to Nottingham Forest prompted ridicule but his thrilling potential is clear.

Read Nick Wright's feature here

Why Pochettino's faith in Jackson is justified

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Bournemouth vs Chelsea is live on We on Super Sunday; kick-off 2pm

The goal expectancy looks too high in a game between two teams who have significant problems in attack.

Chelsea's impressive tally of 11 big chances created this season, the highest in the league, demonstrates their flowing football, but their inability to finish poses a persistent problem. This issue is unlikely to resolve itself, regardless of the strong chance creation metrics. As long as the frontline remains unchanged, I remain doubtful that goals will cease to be a problem for the team.

Since October 2022, Chelsea's Premier League games have witnessed the lowest goal count, excluding the three promoted teams, with a meager average of 2.16 goals per 90 minutes. Additionally, they have scored more than once in only seven of their last 33 games across all competitions.

The 5/4 odds offered by Sky Bet for this game to have less than 2.5 goals make it an attractive bet, especially considering Bournemouth's ongoing struggle to establish their playing style under Andoni Iraola. Among all the Premier League teams this season, only Sheffield United and Burnley have created fewer significant scoring opportunities than the Cherries, and they have failed to produce any in their two home games against West Ham and Tottenham.

As of now, there have been 51 Premier League matches played since the last goalless draw. The odds of 14/1 offered by Sky Bet for this streak to end entice me.

Jones Knows: Bournemouth vs Chelsea prediction...

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