Many Chelsea supporters will be hoping that the international break will bring a change in tactics from what they have been used to so far.
Ben Chilwell is being used almost as a left-winger with the left-footed Levi Colwill replacing him at left back.
Pochettino’s preferred starting XI is made up of only two recognized attackers: Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling.
Enzo Fernandez has played in the centre of the park for the past two weeks, alongside Caicedo, and Conor Gallagher, who was at fault for gifting Nottingham Forest possession and scoring the only goal of the game at the weekend.
With Cole Palmer making his first start since joining from Manchester City in the summer for £45million, fans used his first-half substitution to vent their anger at manager Pochettino’s decision to start Chilwell ahead of him, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Chilwell was then asked about his new role while on media duty for England. “It’s a new position, but the manager trusted me to play there, so I’m trying to make up for it,” he said. “I’m still learning as I go.”
“I’ve played left-back, then left-wing-back, and now I’m higher up the pitch,” he added. “I expect the pressure to be on me to score goals. I’ll be working on that over the next few weeks at Chelsea to add that finishing threat. I need to shoot more, not just pass more.”
Despite Chilwell’s appeal, former Premier League player Danny Murphy has been completely perplexed by Pochettino’s decision, with his brief statement making his feelings clear. “What is going on here? Chilwell is a left-back, I’m in shock,” Murphy said on FIVE’s YouTube channel.
Chilwell has been in the team for one of the longest periods without an injury having joined the club from Leicester in 2020 for £45million, but with a defensive duo back in, the tactics could change.
