Pochettino told to make drastic change as "useless" Chelsea star slammed

03 September 2023 , 12:01

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Pochettino told to make drastic change as "useless" Chelsea star slammed

Chelsea star Mykhaylo Mudryk has been branded "absolutely useless", with manager Mauricio Pochettino's tactics also questioned after the Blues were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest.

Chelsea have spent more £1billion since a consortium led by Todd Boehly bought the club from Roman Abramovich last year. Despite their big spending, Chelsea endured their worst ever Premier League campaign last season as they finished 12th and things have not started much better under new boss Pochettino.

In four league games, the Blues have earned just one victory over newly-promoted Luton Town and have now suffered two defeats in games where they have dominated the ball. Chelsea lost 3-1 to 10-man West Ham despite having 76 per cent possession and 17 shots and it was a similar story against Forest, where they had 77 per cent possession and 21 shots.

And former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has slammed Pochettino's tactics, questioning why he did not start with a back four against Forest, as well as Mudryk's performance off the bench and Chelsea's transfer business.

"What I don't understand with Chelsea is that they had 21 shots and guess how many on target? Two," Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. "They're getting into the positions but they just don't have the quality and it seems to be a theme now.

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"You look on social media and the story is that Chelsea sign players but they lose games. They've spent £1billion. Why didn't Chelsea use a quarter of that money and go out and buy a star?

"Go and give Paris Saint-Germain an offer for Mbappe that they can't refuse. Harry Kane, 'there you go, Daniel Levy. Whatever you want'. £150million for Harry Kane and you've got two superstars.

Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday (David Rogers/Getty Images)

"They've bought loads of players who are average. Mudryk came on and he nearly gave away two goals! He was absolutely useless. He's had 19 games, zero goals and they haven't got a style of play.

"Today it was five at the back or three centre-halves. They have Gallagher who doesn't score goals in there and it's slow. Caicedo made two mistakes in there, they're changing formations again – why not start with a back four?

"No disrespect to Nottingham Forest, but you should be playing four at the back against them and yes, Pochettino might think that he's got time but carry on losing, let's see if the Chelsea fans give you time."

Matthew Cooper