https://talksport.com/football/1567750/
TALKSPORT
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that despite Chelsea’s incredible spending, he may not be able to fill a matchday squad.
The Blues travel to Bournemouth in the hope of getting their season back on track, but could struggle filling the nine available spots on their bench.
Chelsea have spent a staggering £1billion on transfer fees in three transfer windows since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital came in last year.
Twice in 2023 they’ve broken the British transfer record, first for £106.8million Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, and then £115m Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
The £400m they spent in the summer just gone comes after £600m for the 2022/23 season, the most any football club has ever laid out in a single campaign.
Yet an injury crisis looks set to leave them struggling against the Cherries on Sunday.
Discussing the Blues’ lack of European football this season, Pochettino told the media: “With the circumstances, of course, I think it is better for us because we have 11 or 12 players injured.
“And I think it’s very short, the squad at the moment. I think we are going to play against Bournemouth with 14 or 15 players. I think it’s important that we can recover the players and be competitive.”
On that list are a number of this season’s arrivals, with £52m Christopher Nkunku out with a long-term knee injury, and he has been joined in the treatment room by £58m Romeo Lavia who is yet to play since arriving from Southampton.
With such an extensive squad turnover, Chelsea have had a stuttering start to the season, following up an encouraging 1-1 draw with Liverpool by losing 3-1 to London rivals West Ham.
After that they secured victories against Luton and Wimbledon, but then fell to a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break.
On the positive side for Pochettino, captain Reece James is nearing a return after an opening day injury against Liverpool.
