Chelsea’s manager Mauricio Pochettino is standing by his players despite the team’s position as the Premier League team with the most yellow cards this season. Pochettino refused to blame a lack of discipline for this unwanted record, insisting that it is the team’s desire to improve their form that is leading to rash actions on the field. This comes after Chelsea collected five bookings during their 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Christmas Eve.
Among the players who received yellow cards in the Wolves match was Cole Palmer, who will now miss their upcoming game against Crystal Palace due to accumulating five yellow cards for the campaign. Raheem Sterling also saw yellow for simulation during the match. Pochettino emphasized that playing for Chelsea comes with pressure, and the frustration of not performing well is causing the players to make mistakes.
The team has already faced suspensions for Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Conor Gallagher earlier in the season. Summer signing Nicolas Jackson is also teetering on the edge with two bookings shy of a two-match ban. Pochettino attributes these rash actions to the team’s desire to win and their lack of experience compared to other teams. He emphasized the need for the players to improve their capacity to read the situation of the game.
Pochettino also pointed towards injuries as a contributing factor to their struggles, with at least eight players unfit for the upcoming game against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. This includes Enzo Fernandez, who is set to miss his second straight game. Pochettino also hinted that he does not believe Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia are fit to start after long spells out.
The manager expressed his frustration and disappointment at not being able to use all his players at the same time, leading to inconsistent results throughout the season. He emphasized the need to recover players and fix the issues that have plagued the team since the beginning of the season. Despite the challenges, Pochettino remains focused on the team’s upcoming game and is working towards addressing their shortcomings.
The Premier League season has been a challenging one for Chelsea, with the team grappling with injuries and a lack of discipline on the field. Pochettino’s commitment to supporting his players and addressing the underlying issues shows his determination to turn the team’s fortunes around. As Chelsea prepares for their next game, Pochettino’s leadership will be crucial in guiding the team towards a much-needed improvement in their form.