Chelsea accused of selling Pochettino short by failing to seal two transfers

11 November 2023 , 20:30

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Scott Minto sympathises with Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino is the right man to spearhead Chelsea's project. But things could still get worse before they get better at Stamford Bridge.

That's according to former Blues defender Scott Minto, who claims Pochettino has been sold short following Todd Boehly's crazy £1billion transfer frenzy.

"Poch is the man to guide Chelsea and he can definitely propel them back into the top-four," said Minto ahead of today's showdown with Manchester City.

"I don't know if he'll win the Premier League because I think Pep Guardiola is the best manager ever. If he remains at City, clubs will struggle to win the title. But Pochettino is the right man for the job and they simply cannot sack him, however bad it gets.

"Chelsea can't become a club where you go through multiple managers per season because that would prove damaging for the future. Unfortunately, even after beating their biggest rivals in Tottenham - a fantastic achievement even against nine men - it could get worse before it gets better, purely because of the fixtures. First it's City, then Newcastle away but Chelsea must build from here."

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Chelsea's patchy form has seen them lose as many top-flight matches (four) as they've won this season but Minto has told Blues supporters there should be one clear reason for optimism. "I think they've been the better side in practically all of their matches under Pochettino," Minto added.

"A confident and clinical side would have scored eight at Spurs but in every single game they've had enough chances to earn all three points. That's a huge positive. You can control matches in midfield but the game is won and lost in both boxes."

That's precisely why Minto feels it's only fair to defend the Chelsea boss, who has been deprived of a world-class centre-forward and goalkeeper. Minto feels Chelsea have gone overboard with recruiting young talent - as opposed to signing the final pieces of the jigsaw.

Chelsea are looking to build on Monday's 4-1 win at Tottenham (Getty Images)

He continued: "For me, the philosophy of their recruitment wasn't right and ultimately, the new owners haven't bought well. Everyone wants to buy potential with sell-on value but it's also about the present and they haven't signed enough players for the here and now. They haven't bought an elite striker although Chelsea were unlucky with Christopher Nkunku's injury.

"I do like Nicolas Jackson, who is very raw and still learning top-level football, let alone at a huge club like Chelsea. There's a good chance he could get 15 Premier League goals which is a great return but I still think Chelsea should go and get Ivan Toney.

Scott Minto thinks Chelsea should sign Ivan Toney in January (Sky Sports)

"If they do have a blanket recruitment policy which means there are no signings over the age of 25 - then that's ridiculous. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot. Additionally, Robert Sanchez is a good goalkeeper but he was third-choice at Brighton and they didn't buy a ready-made, world-class No.1, which was a mistake."

Minto also sympathises with Graham Potter and caretaker boss Frank Lampard, who were destined to fail because of Chelsea's inflated squad. He concluded: "You don't foster a winning spirit at the training ground if you have 35 players. It's impossible to manage. I still think Poch should have jumped at the chance to replace Potter as he would've seen who had a backbone during Chelsea's lowest point."

Ryan Taylor