18 August 2023 , 21:30
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Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Chelsea’s spending spree means they have to be title contenders.
Chelsea completed a £58m deal for Romeo Lavia to take this week’s spending to £173m after Moises Caicedo also joined and their summer outlay has now hit £380m. Pochettino accepts that, despite Chelsea’s 12th place finish last year, expectation levels are sky high - and they are ready to win trophies this season.
Blues boss Pochettino said: “I said even before the signings that we need to expect to win, we need to expect to have a mentality that we will be there and everything is possible. Now with Moises and Romeo of course, but it’s not going to increase the percentage or the belief.
"I think we had the belief before and now the team is going to have better tools, quality players and, for sure, better players brings you closer to winning.
"I can feel the excitement from the people, even from the players who were already here. But when Caicedo and Lavia decided to come here, it was a big boost also to say: ‘we’re at a club where everything Is possible.’
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“The feeling also translated to outside that they wanted to join us and I think that is so exciting, you can feel the energy at the training ground. That’s fantastic, we are so happy and now we have to work hard, play and enjoy.
“We have to be clever in the way we set up the principles and the process. But I think the fans are happy and I think they showed it against Liverpool that they were behind the team, they were very loud and animated. The feeling is very good and the players really appreciated the energy from the fans.”
Romeo Lavia has completed his transfer from Southampton to Chelsea (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Pochettino also made it clear that Chelsea players cannot be complacent - even if they are given eight year contracts. The new pay model means they are given long term deals on a lower weekly wage but the longer contracts offer bigger earnings and security.
Caicedo was given an eight year deal after joining from Brighton, although UEFA’s spending rules mean they can only spread the cost of the transfer fee over a five year deal.
Pochettino added: “If you have an eight year contract the player needs to be responsible and show respect, commitment and the quality that we expect from them. If not they are not going to play.
“And look, the players cannot be upset. We will be upset against the player. Because if we sign a player and are giving an eight year contract, the player is not willing to do what we expect him to do and is not playing, it is because of him and not because of us. The club and us are upset.
“They need to give their best and show the talent we assume they have.”
Meanwhile, new club captain Reece James is facing another prolonged absence because of a hamstring injury which Pochettino confirmed is “weeks rather than days.”