Chelsea have been at the heart of another very busy summer transfer window with exits having been at the forefront of the club’s business as opposed to an array off new signings
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Mauricio Pochettino has warned his Chelsea squad there is no room for trouble makers.
The Chelsea boss says he wants to trim his squad down to players who will fight for their places if they are not in the first team, and don’t “make a mess”. Pochettino has cleared 12 players so far this summer, with three more on the way.
Mendy, Koulibaly, Loftus-Cheek, Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Pulisic, Felix who was on loan, Havertz, Aubemayang, Ampadu have all gone. Ziyech, Lukaku and Hudson-Odoi will leave soon. Pochettino says he needs a tight squad of 22 players plus kids, who will let him make selection decisions without kicking up a fuss or losing interest in their mission to revive the club.
The Argentine boss said: “We can’t have players who won’t play, and create a mess in the squad. Of course if a player is not happy and they believe they can’t play we will find a solution, talk with the club and fix the situation.
”We need players who are happy. Playing, or not playing. If they believe they need to be in the first XI, try to be the coach, it is better to talk now. Maybe they think: If you don’t play I don’t want to be here.
“I’d rather it was: If I am not playing and I am here I accept you are the coaching staff and I won’t play every game. That is not a threat. It is about that character.
Mauricio Pochettino is aiming to get Chelsea back on track this season (
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“The attitude has to be: I come here to help the club, and then I need to convince the coach I need to play. I am a player and let the coaching staff coach. If not, impossible. You need the right players to accept what is going on.”
Chelsea are in for Moises Caicedo of Brighton who want £80m for their star man. But Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi says he will still be his player when the season kicks off so that could go to the wire. Connor Gallagher, wanted by West Ham, remains in Pochettino’s plans as he tries to bolster the midfield.
Pochettino was happy with the way his youngsters fought out a draw with Newcastle in the Premier League Summer Series with a goal from Nico Jackson .Pochettino added: “We don’t need a bigger squad, 22-23 players with some younger, and that is it. Those decisions will be tough. We need a good and balanced team to compete for things.
“We need to define the squad. It is massive, the squad. The dynamic is now really good, good boys and sharing a good time together. But sometimes four or five players can’t play and the mood is difficult.
“That is a natural thing. It is creating a squad with balance and people who have the chance to play and compete for a place. That is a challenge for us in the window, to build a good relationship.”
