Chelsea dealt huge double blow for Crystal Palace as Pochettino left furious

25 December 2023 , 01:00

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Mauricio Pochettino has been cursing Chelsea's ill-discipline (Image: Getty Images)

Chelsea will be without Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer for Wednesday’s clash with Crystal Palace after their bookings at Wolves.

A fourth consecutive away league defeat saw Chelsea add to their position as the worst-behaved team in the division, with five yellows taking their total to 56. Sterling was cautioned for simulation, after contact from Joao Gomes.

And Palmer was another of the five players booked on the day for kicking the ball away, cautions that took them on to five each and activated a one-match ban. Manager Mauricio Pochettino felt Sterling was hard done by for his booking, after replays did appear to show contact from the Wolves man.

But the Chelsea boss admitted he is getting frustrated by the mounting yellows and suspensions for his slumping stars. He said: “Yes for me Raheem’s was harsh but, of course, it’s a frustration.

“They are young and sometimes they get frustrated but now we are without two more players.” Pochettino was also left frustrated by his team continuing their record of having the most misses of “big chances” in the Premier League.

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But sub Christopher Nkunku marked his first ever league action with a goal off the bench and could be in line to start against Palace. Poch said: “It is good he scored but he needs time for everyone to see his best.”

Reflecting on the defeat to Wolves, Pochettino admitted he was "disappointed" but urged his players to "keep going" if they are to reverse the club's fortunes. "We spoke a lot earlier in the season, it's a group of players and we are a young team," he said. "That doesn't mean we are young in age but we are a young team. Some are playing in the Premier League for the first time and they need a moment to adapt.

"It is about confidence and quality, too many things. We should score if we want to win games. We feel very disappointed. I am disappointed also because in the first five minutes of the second half we conceded too many corners.

"We have to keep going and pushing, young teams learn from this sort of game. It was difficult because of the space. It made the task more difficult but we need to keep going because we are in a position which Chelsea shouldn't be in."

Ian Whittell