16 August 2023 , 09:57
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Gary Neville has claimed that all of Mauricio Pochettino's plans for his first season at the helm of Chelsea would be "destroyed" if Reece James and Ben Chilwell get injured.
Pochettino now has his first competitive game as Blues boss under his belt following the 1-1 draw against 'big-six' rivals Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Argentine opted for an interesting tactical decision against the Reds that saw Chelsea play with a three-man defence, deploying James and Chilwell in more attacking roles as wing-backs.
While Neville was impressed with what he saw from the Blues, who managed to cancel out Luis Diaz's opener via a goal from debutant Alex Disasi, the former Manchester United man feels Chelsea are placing plenty of responsibility on James and Chilwell, which is fine - so long as they stay fit.
"There's a lot to work with, a lot of potential, and I think they've got the right coach to turn that potential into high-quality performances," he The Gary Neville Podcast on Sky Sports. "What we’ve seen [on Sunday] is that Chelsea have fantastic wing-backs but they’ve both gone off, first game of the season.
"That will destroy Pochettino’s plans. If you’re going to play wing-backs, they have to be outstanding players of high quality, who attack like wingers and defend like full-backs, and they have that. But the big question mark is if those two can stay fit. Those wing-backs are crucial and if they lose them the whole thing could fall apart a little."
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Both James and Chilwell are vital cogs in the Chelsea system, but Neville's fears regarding their fitness are not unfounded. The pair of England internationals have both struggled with injuries in recent years and James was even hauled off early against Liverpool, though that is believed to be because of fatigue more than anything else.
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Gary Neville fears for Chelsea if Reece James and Ben Chilwell both fail to stay fitHopes are high among the Stamford Bridge faithful that Chelsea can enjoy a much better campaign this time around after last season's disastrous effort. The Blues have been very active in the transfer market this summer and show no signs of slowing down.
Pochettino has even overseen the process of Chelsea breaking the British transfer record after the Blues finally landed the signature of Moises Caicedo for a staggering £115million fee from Brighton. Southampton's Romeo Lavia is expected to follow suit soon, while Crystal Palace ace Michael Olise is also likely to join the club before the window closes.
Up next for Chelsea is the not-so-small matter of a London derby away at West Ham, with both teams aiming for their first win of the new campaign after both being held to 1-1 draws in their opening games. Despite his early withdrawal against Liverpool, James is expected to be fit to face the Hammers.