JOE COLE MAKES 'FIGHTING' CLAIM AS HE OFFERS CHELSEA VERDICT ON MAURICIO POCHETTINO
Joe Cole believes that Mauricio Pochettino is doing a great job as Chelsea boss and has called for continuity - despite the club's struggles to qualify for Europe once again this season.
The Blues saw their chances of a trophy this term end with defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, having already lost in the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool. Pochettino's side sit ninth in the Premier League and retain a chance of qualifying for European competition but next face title-challengers Arsenal in the Premier League.
Chelsea are 27 points behind their London rivals but have games in hand on their immediate competitors in West Ham, Manchester United and Newcastle, who all sit within three points. The west London side's inconsistency has cost them this season - and recent promising results over Everton and United have meant little due to dropped points against Sheffield United and Burnley.
Cole believes such turbulent form is to be expected given the club's lavish spending has seen the club overhaul their squad into the youngest in the top-flight. While Pochettino has been tasked with getting the best out of the group, the TNT Sports pundit believes the young pool of players would benefit from experienced heads.
"They are the youngest squad in the league, one of the youngest in Europe," said Cole, who won the Premier League three times with Chelsea.
"One thing you can't push in football is time, wisdom and experience. That will just come once you keep doing the right things, players will get better as a group or individuals. It is understandable that there are going to be bumps in the road.
"But for players to improve it is not just a great manager, which Pochettino is," he added, "But great senior players around them. You learn from other players, good and bad habits from what is around you. The coaching staff have got a great job because they've got an opportunity to develop these players but what is happening is understandable for where they are at the moment. The manager is doing a great job in bringing them along."
The declaration that Pochettino is doing a good job may be difficult for many to stomach, with a support base used to challenging at the very top. It has been barely two years since Chelsea won the Club World Cup following Champions League success.
Cole believes his former team require 'continuity' and 'consistency', however - and is convinced of the job Pochettino is doing. The ex-midfielder believes the Blues' head coach has handled himself well in a difficult situation.
"Well first of all, I'm seeing a team that is fighting for the manager," explained Cole. "You can see that. In the Manchester United game, large spells of the Manchester City game, bearing in mind Manchester City are an elite side, champions of Europe, still for a few more weeks. So you see sparks of that.
"The personality of the man. I think he's held himself with such dignity throughout it. He looks calm and composed and I see enough glimpses of a team in there.
"It's just a very, very difficult club to take over at the time it was because of all the change when he came in and the history of the club. The history of the club used to having success is a really tough burden to have on these young players.
"They're not there yet these players, but they can be. But there's a lot of improving for them and growing as individuals but I think there's enough quality there for them to do it. But the next few years, we'll find out."
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2024-04-23T06:15:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd