Pochettino believes Chelsea are 'building something'
Former Chelsea star Shaun Wright-Phillips has backed Mauricio Pochettino to go into the transfer market and sign a striker in the ilk of Blues icon Didier Drogba, by following the example of their Premier League rivals. Chelsea’s lack of firepower has been questioned so far this season as Nicolas Jackson, Armando Broja and Cole Palmer have all led the line at times but many have called for a senior striker to be brought in.
Only three teams have conceded fewer times than Chelsea in the league but just 13 goals in nine games have exposed a potential issue, despite recent improved outings against Fulham, Burnley and Arsenal. Wright-Phillips has been impressed with the resurgence under Pochettino, but feels that Chelsea are still missing a ‘Drogba-like player’ up front to take them to the next level.
“You can see that whatever Pochettino is doing at the moment is working, it’s just about putting the ball in the back of the net,” Wright-Phillips told Express Sport via BetWay Sports Betting.
“I think if Nicolas Jackson scores that chance (late opportunity vs Arsenal) the game is over, but he tries to go round the goalkeeper and that’s another thing with the confidence, they might need a striker – a no-nonsense striker.
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“You can say a [Erling] Haaland or [Julian] Alvarez or [Darwin] Nunez or Son [Heung-min], players who don’t care how the ball goes in the goal. It doesn’t need to look nice, it just needs to hit the back of the net. They miss a Drogba-like player, just to put the ball in the goal.”
Chelsea could be wise to follow the example that Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham have set by bringing in ruthless forwards, as their two recognised strikers Jackson and Broja have hit the back of the net just three times in eight combined league starts.
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Todd Boehly and co have prioritised youth as their marquee striker addition was 22-year-old Jackson, who arrived alongside fellow talented prospects such as Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in the summer. Wright-Phillips conceded that the “scattergun” recruitment may lead to success, but cautioned the need for senior professionals in the squad.
“It’s very tricky (to get the balance right),” Wright-Phillips added. “I think if you look at a lot of clubs in the top four, they have all got star players who are all young. The way Todd Boehly has done it is a scattergun approach, which I have said before.
“I think the players that he has got there individually are great players, you have got to make those great players work together now and I think Pochettino is now in the right place and he is doing the right things. Possession has got a lot better, I feel like they have an identity and their tactics per team have got a lot better.”
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