Chelsea, Pochettino, and the renewal of the team

It’s no secret that Chelsea FC had a very tumultuous 2022/23 season. The Blues finished in the twelfth position after massive investment by new owner Todd Boehly in both the summer and January transfer windows, much to the fans’ disappointment.

Three managers in Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard came and went during the season without any major improvements, which is why Boehly decided to sign now-former Paris Saint Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian was one of the names on the table alongside the likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann.

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In that regard, Chelsea have already started a major rebuild process. Important players such as Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, N’golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Edouard Mendy have all left the club, which has opened the way for new players to come in. It was also necessary to balance the books and trim down the squad after so many signings.

This approach highlights a desire in the team to lower the average age of the squad and also to give a lot more focus to the new signings, which seems to be the most logical thing from the board’s perspective. However, it is also worth pointing out that these signings need to fit with Pochettino’s vision.

Chelsea have remained unbeaten in the four games they played in preseason, which has been a source of optimism for a lot of fans. New summer signings such as midfielder Diego Moreira and striker Nicolas Jackson have already played in these friendlies as well.

Keeping the good feeling going. 💪#BluesInTheUSA

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 3, 2023

It is going to be a complicated season for the Blues in terms of goals to achieve. While having no international competitions can give them an edge when it comes to rest periods, it is also a testament to how poor last season was for them and how much territory they need to recover during Pochettino’s tenure.

From the Argentinian’s perspective, this is also a very important job. His tenure in Tottenham Hotspurs, while excellent, ended on a very sour note, and his stint at PSG was met with a lot of rejection, mostly because of how the side underperformed in the UEFA Champions League and how they lost the 2021/22 season to Lille.

This season is also very important for several players that arrived last season at the club. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, and Mykhailo Mudryk have to prove their worth this season after failing to perform in their debut year and also become key cogs in the Pochettino machinery.

As of this writing, it is safe to say that the most important goal to achieve this season for Chelsea is reaching the top four and qualifying for the next edition of the UEFA Champions League. This will also represent that the club has found a degree of consistency and that their players are performing, which is also another major thing to consider.

However, it is too soon to determine what is going to be like for Pochettino and his new project.