Mauricio Pochettino reveals game-changing secret behind his unwavering belief in future triumphs

Chelsea, once again, leads the pack in terms of spending during the summer transfer window. With a total of 12 new players already signed and more likely to come, they are establishing themselves as the dominant force in terms of recruiting talent among Premier League clubs. It is worth noting that this is the third consecutive window in which Chelsea has outspent their rivals. Moreover, this impressive figure of new signings is in addition to the 19 players who joined the club last season.

The radical restructuring of Chelsea's squad has garnered attention from across Europe. Rivals are curious about how the club intends to abide by Financial Fair Play regulations, especially considering the instability that led to the dismissals of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard. However, Mauricio Pochettino, the fifth head coach appointed during Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali's ownership, is embracing the extensive changes to his team.

Pochettino revealed in an exclusive interview ahead of Friday Night Football's live match between Chelsea and Luton that the idea originated from Paul [Winstanley] and Laurence [Stewart], the sporting directors, as well as the club itself.

Chelsea

Luton Town

Friday 25th August 7:00pm

Kick off 8:00pm

"They presented the project of the club, with players in and players out. When I accepted, I accepted knowing what was going to happen in the squad."

Chelsea's squad has seen a significant decrease in average age, with none of their newly acquired players being older than 25. Meanwhile, only three outfield players, namely Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and Raheem Sterling, are 26 years old or older. In contrast, last season's Champions League-winning Manchester City team had nine players above the age of 25, while the Real Madrid squad that claimed the trophy the previous year included eight players in that age group.

Does Pochettino not have any concerns about the lack of experience within his team, considering he mentioned upon his arrival at Chelsea that the club's expectations revolve around winning?

"It's all about finding the perfect equilibrium," he clarifies. "While we do have young players, they possess both experience and quality."

Pochettino is not bothered by Chelsea's start to the season, stating that it does not concern him, even though his team has only earned one point in their first two games.

The latest match was a humbling 3-1 loss against West Ham, during which Moises Caicedo - the £115m signing from Brighton, breaking the British transfer record - made a penalty mistake in his disastrous debut as a substitute.

Nevertheless, Pochettino firmly believes in the abilities of the Ecuadorian, and Chelsea will undoubtedly wish for him to emulate a beloved former player who has just left the club.

Pochettino praised Caicedo as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League but acknowledged that he is still young and has room to develop, highlighting the need for hard work and improvement in various aspects.

However, he possesses the capability to emerge as one of the most exceptional individuals. The possibility of uniting Caicedo with Enzo Fernandez, the player he superseded as the costliest in British history within a mere seven months, is highly enticing. Pochettino remains resolute in his mission to unlock the utmost potential of his compatriot.

Fernandez frequently played as a holding midfielder under Potter and Lampard, but Pochettino wasted no time in personally informing the World Cup champion about his new role. Pochettino was adamant that Fernandez is a No 8 and prioritized discussing his position and comfort level, as well as recognizing his exceptional abilities.

"He requires certain liberties. He possesses the ability to provide assistance and take shots from beyond the penalty area."

Pochettino has not only made adjustments to the midfield. While Kai Havertz was often deployed as a hesitant false No 9 throughout the previous season, the head coach seems to have placed his trust in a completely different type of player, namely Nicolas Jackson.

"He possesses the ability to function as both a conventional striker, operating within the confines of the penalty box, as well as a versatile player who can operate beyond the constraints of the traditional forward position," Pochettino stated. "His commendable technical prowess enables him to seamlessly connect with his teammates during the development of attacking plays, and he can swiftly exploit gaps in the opposition's defensive line with his penetrating runs."

Jackson is a quick and highly skilled striker. Despite his youth and it being his debut season in the Premier League, he is expected to improve and score goals in due course.

Although Jackson displays promise, Chelsea faces a concern regarding the players who contribute to his goal-scoring opportunities. Mason Mount, who currently plays for Manchester United, was the only Chelsea player to rank among the top 20 in assists over the past three seasons in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, with the versatile forward, Christopher Nkunku, who was acquired from RB Leipzig for a hefty £52m, and the promising talent, Carney Chukwuemeka, both sidelined due to injuries, Pochettino acknowledges that his team needs to make up for their absence in that particular position.

"We have options like Conor Gallagher and Enzo, who can fill in as an attacking midfielder or a forward. We will make adjustments accordingly.

"We have faced some unfortunate circumstances with injuries affecting key players in that specific position, which can be seen as a stroke of bad luck. However, it is essential for us to acknowledge these situations and maintain a positive outlook."

Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy were his goalkeepers when he arrived. However, shortly after, the head coach discovers Robert Sanchez, previously dropped by Brighton last season, who has now become the unquestionable No 1 goalkeeper since joining Chelsea this summer.

"We observed the circumstances upon our arrival," Pochettino contemplated. "It presents a significant challenge for Robert to come here and take on the responsibility of being the No 1."

"He hails from Brighton, where he endured a challenging season. However, I sense that the club harbors unwavering belief in him. And we, too, have faith in his abilities."

"In a similar vein, Levi Colwill, who was Sanchez's fellow teammate at Brighton last season, is currently an integral part of the defensive line for the Blues, enjoying the trust instilled in him by Pochettino."

It's a unit that has garnered interest in the initial weeks of the season, as Pochettino utilizes a defensive formation consisting of four players when not in possession, which then transitions into a three-player formation once the team regains the ball.

Pochettino explains that the tactic, in which Chilwell transitions into a left winger while Colwill, Thiago Silva, and Axel Disasi hold the defensive line, offers his team a foundation to initiate possession from the back. He further states, "Against the teams we faced, utilizing a three-back formation may prove to be more effective. However, there are occasions where we may prefer a four-back or two-back system with various midfield configurations. Our constant objective is to discover the optimal approach that enables us to maintain a dynamic playstyle and swiftly advance the ball beyond the opposing team's initial pressure."

Chelsea dominated possession in their matches against Liverpool and West Ham, but only managed to secure one point. Pochettino acknowledges that his team must learn from their experience at the London Stadium before facing Luton, whom he considers to be an exceptional opponent. He emphasizes the importance of staying focused and building upon the team's strengths while also addressing areas in need of improvement.

"It will be a challenging match against the highly physical team, Luton, who excel in their performance. We are well aware of what awaits us and must show competitiveness and clarity in our playing and defensive strategies.

Our objective is to make improvements from last week and ultimately secure three points. However, what truly matters is the manner in which we approach the game, not just the outcome."

Pochettino remains unfazed by a winless start as he holds steadfast in his players' potential.

"We experience positive emotions, but unfortunately, they do not directly correlate to scoring points," he explains. "Nonetheless, we continue to strive for improvement, and our players demonstrate strong dedication to our preferred style of play.

"This is a gradual journey, requiring patience, but we are confident that our future endeavors will yield significant success."

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