Mauricio Pochettino is eager to reestablish a strong connection between Chelsea’s first team and their academy, a move prompted by concerns surrounding the departures of key talents such as Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek during this summer’s transfer window.
The club’s decision to sell young talent from their Cobham academy was driven by financial considerations, as they sought to balance the books after an unprecedented expenditure of nearly £1 billion in the last three transfer windows.
Additionally, the potential exits of Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, and Ian Maatsen loom as the transfer window’s closure approaches.
Pochettino’s Vision for the Academy Stars
Pochettino, however, harbors hopes of providing opportunities to emerging academy talents and is prepared to include teenagers on the bench for the upcoming Carabao Cup second-round match against AFC Wimbledon.
He emphasized the significance of reinstating Chelsea’s philosophy of nurturing young talent, stating, “I hope we can change this feeling for the fans in the future.
It can again be the philosophy of the club. I think always the record was fantastic, and we again need to reinforce and energize the academy.”
Blooding the Youngsters
The Argentine manager confirmed that he plans to include “four or five” players who are yet to make their senior debuts in his squad for the Wimbledon clash.
While they are likely to start on the bench, Pochettino expressed the possibility of giving them playing time if the match unfolds favorably.
He noted the excitement these prospects, aged 16 to 17, feel at the prospect of being part of an official competition with the first team at Stamford Bridge, highlighting the significance of the moment for them and their families.
Balancing Youth and Winning in the Carabao Cup
Despite his intention to introduce young talents from the bench, Pochettino is set to field a strong starting lineup for the Carabao Cup match on Wednesday night, underscoring Chelsea’s commitment to winning the competition.
This decision reinforces the club’s determination to secure silverware.
Pochettino’s Passion for Winning
Mauricio Pochettino, known for his knack for developing young players, feels that he is often misunderstood in English football.
He clarified that his unwavering obsession has always been about winning trophies.
Pochettino acknowledged past challenges in effectively conveying this message, partially due to language barriers.
Nevertheless, his commitment to winning, be it in official competitions or friendly matches, remains unshaken.
He stressed that he has no room for complaints about circumstances; his focus is squarely on winning, winning, and winning.