Mauricio Pochettino offers injury update on Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu
Chelsea’s head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, addressed the media following the Blues’ disappointing defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and offered insights into their upcoming Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace. Despite Chelsea’s struggles on the road, Pochettino remains determined to build on recent positive performances at Stamford Bridge.
The Christmas Eve clash saw goals from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty overturn Christopher Nkunku’s first goal for Chelsea, extending the team’s away woes. Pochettino, eager to see a more clinical display in front of goal, expressed his frustration after a challenging afternoon at Molineux.
Our next game against Crystal Palace will have a smaller roster to choose from as Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer will serve their suspensions after their fifth yellow card. Moises Caicedo is not a sure-shot inclusion in the squad as is the case with Lesley Ogochukwu. Enzo Fernandez continues to recover from his hernia and will not take part against Palace.
In the press conference via football.london, Pochettino reviewed the defeat against Wolves and provided an injury update on Ogochukwu and here is what he had to say about the £23.1m man:
“With Lesley, we will assess him tomorrow, but I think he felt his hamstring again. I said in the press conference it is important how we reintroduce players, but we were forced because of the problem with Moises to play Lesley.”
He came off in the 58th minute against Wolves and was replaced by Nkunku who took the chance to score his first goal for the Blues. The setback with Lesley’s potential hamstring issue adds to Chelsea’s injury concerns, emphasizing the delicate balance required in managing player introductions.
Pochettino acknowledged the challenges faced due to unforeseen circumstances, such as Caicedo’s injury, leading to the Frenchman’s unplanned involvement in the match against Wolves.
Looking ahead, Pochettino remains focused on rectifying the team’s away form and capitalising on the positive momentum generated at home. The clash against Crystal Palace presents an opportunity for Chelsea to bounce back and showcase their resilience.
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The January transfer window also looms, offering Pochettino an avenue to reinforce the squad and address specific areas of concern. The manager’s ability to adapt and motivate the team will be tested, but with his experience and tactical acumen, Chelsea fans will hope for a resurgence in the second half of the season.