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A popular pundit has laid into Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino for the damage he has done to the Blues' team
One pundit has expressed concern that Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, along with his players, has transformed the twilight of Thiago Silva's illustrious career into a nightmare.
The Argentine manager was brought in to restore stability at Stamford Bridge after a tumultuous 2022/23 season that saw Chelsea finish 12th in the Premier League.
Despite Pochettino's arrival, Chelsea's struggles persist. A recent loss to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool has left them languishing in tenth place, a daunting 12 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and a staggering 20 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
Pochettino himself expressed doubts about his team's "personality and character" following the defeat at Anfield.
TalkSPORT host Adrian Durham argues that it's time to scrutinize Pochettino's role in Chelsea's current predicament. Despite the positive sentiment surrounding the manager, Durham points out several issues plaguing the team.
The Argentine questioned his side’s “personality and character” after the loss at Anfield but talkSPORT host Adrian Durham thinks it is Pochettino’s fault that Chelsea look “a shambles”.
“He has a lot of love, people do say some positive things about him. There’s a lot of blaming of Todd Boehly, the board, the signings and the recruitment etc.
“However, on the pitch last night, Chelsea were hopeless playing out from the back, getting embarrassed by Liverpool’s high press but keeping on doing it was ridiculous. No in-game management from Pochettino and he’s got a problem because they are a shambles. They looked lost last night, they were terrible.
“He doesn’t know his best XI. He’s wasting Cole Palmer’s talent playing him as a false nine, he wasn’t even in the game last night. He’s turning Raheem Sterling into a bang-average Premier League player when we know he’s better than that.
“His team can’t defend or cannot play away from home. His midfield changes game after game and he doesn’t have a clue about that midfield.
“I’m looking at it last night, Enzo and Caicedo £200 million worth of midfielders there and they were totally ineffective. They lost 4-1 with those two in centre midfield.
“Thiago Silva is the big one for me. Pochettino and this Chelsea side are turning his end of career into a complete nightmare, it’s ruining his legacy. I think questions now need to be asked of Pochettino and how he’s managing those players.”
Durham criticizes Chelsea
Durham criticizes Chelsea's inability to function as a cohesive unit on the field. He highlights their struggles in playing out from the back and their vulnerability to Liverpool's high pressing tactics. Pochettino's perceived lack of in-game management comes under scrutiny, as does the overall disarray of the team.
Pochettino's tactical decisions are also questioned. Durham points out that the manager seems unsure of his best starting lineup and suggests that he's not utilizing certain players effectively. Cole Palmer, played as a false nine, is criticized for his ineffectiveness. Raheem Sterling's decline in performance is attributed to Pochettino's management.
Chelsea's defensive woes are another area of concern. The team's inability to defend and perform away from home raises doubts about Pochettino's defensive strategies. Moreover, the constant changes in the midfield lineup are seen as a sign of the manager's uncertainty regarding his midfield options.
Thiago Silva's situation stands out as particularly distressing. Durham believes that Pochettino and Chelsea are tarnishing the legacy of the experienced defender, as his end-of-career experiences are marred by the team's struggles.
Durham suggests that it's time to raise questions about Mauricio Pochettino's management and how he is handling Chelsea's players. The team's performances, tactical issues, and the impact on players like Thiago Silva have all come under scrutiny
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