Mauricio Pochettino 'already panicking' at Chelsea after dismal start to season

26 September 2023 , 09:07

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Mauricio Pochettino has failed to get Chelsea back on track (Image: Getty Images)

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has been left ‘panicking’ by the club’s rotten start to the campaign, a ‘worried’ Paul Merson has claimed.

The Argentine coach took the reins at Stamford Bridge in the summer. Todd Boehly turned to the former Tottenham and PSG man to get the Blues back on track following an awful season last term.

However, things haven’t improved. Chelsea have won just two of seven matches this season - against Luton and Wimbledon - and have failed to score in each of their last three games in the Premier League.

They have a chance to get themselves back on track on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup against Brighton. However, former Arsenal star Merson is concerned for the Blues.

He has suggested that Pochettino potentially underestimated the task in hand in West London, whilst he has been left scrambling around after failing to reverse the side's fortunes. He also suggested that the upcoming game with Brighton represents a crucial match in the context of the Londoners’ season.

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Writing for Sky Sports, Merson said: “If you look at Chelsea's fixtures, you worry for them. The next 10 games are so vital for their season that you can't catch your breath.

“It's a run where you actually don't know when they're going to win a football match. So Wednesday is a huge football match. If they get beat here, they will have won three games in their last 24. One was against Luton and you don't know when they will win a game.

Paul Merson has claimed Mauricio Pochettino has been left 'panicking' after Chelsea's poor start to the season (Getty Images)

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“One was against AFC Wimbledon in the cup and they got over the line in that one. And the other one was against Bournemouth in the league last season but only after Bournemouth got enough points to stay up.

“Even Mauricio Pochettino is coming out and is now saying: 'It's a process, you have to be patient'. When a manager comes out and says that, it shows they are starting to get a bit panicky. Even he doesn't think it was meant to be like this.

“If he is saying that already, it's a worry. I hope he gets that patience and time, they have injuries too. But I'm worried.”

Following their clash with Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea then take on neighbours Fulham at Craven Cottage. Should they fail to score against Marco Silva’s men, it would represent a run of four games without a goal in the Premier League for the first time since 1998. Pochettino’s side currently languish in 14th in the table, already 13 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Daniel Orme