No rest for Poch but Chelsea vow to reset and 'attack second half of season'
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino during win over Fulham. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
The Premier League's barely discernible mid-season 'break' comes at a good time for Chelsea, allowing for the return from injury of key players, and although Mauricio Pochettino will spend a few days with his family in Spain, he admitted he will not be able to switch off – in case the phone rings to tell him reinforcements are on their way.
The Blues have 10 days between Saturday lunchtime's 1-0 win over Fulham and the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, in which they are a goal down from the away leg.
And while Pochettino was quick to deny reports that Chelsea are in talks to sign Evan Ferguson from Brighton, the need for a goalscorer is evident – hence the waiting game he will be playing in Spain.
Pochettino has given his squad a few days off and will return to his family home in Barcelona, but says he cannot switch off. “No, not really because it is January and you need to be available 24 hours a day, to be in contact with the sporting director to see if something can happen. In football, something can always appear.”
Yet when asked if he wants that phone to ring, he laughed: “No not really – if it doesn't ring it is easier for me!” There is little doubt that Chelsea need a proven goalscorer, however. Their only goal on Saturday was a Cole Palmer penalty, and Fulham's keeper Bernd Leno had fewer saves to make than his opposite number Djordje Petrovic, who kept Chelsea in the game at times.
Ferguson would certainly add to their firepower, but Pochettino denied reports he is trying to sign the young Irishman. “I don't talk about rumours or players that are at a different club. I am respectful. We are not talking. We are assessing the squad and if something happens we will communicate that to you. At the moment we didn't take any decision.”
He went on to clarify the comments attributed to him recently. “I never said we need a centre-forward. I said we are working like other clubs, assessing the market and the situations that can appear. Most important is the club is ready to act in one or another direction. I never said we need to add another player.” There are signs of improvement and reasons to be optimistic. This was Chelsea's third straight win in the league, and key players are gradually returning. Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka made late appearances as substitutes after their injury problems, although there is no timeframe for the return of Christopher Nkunku from his latest injury.
The Blues are now only three points behind sixth-placed West Ham and Pochettino added: “We can rest now and then attack the second half of the season.”
Maybe their luck is turning, too, with full-back Malo Gusto fortunate to escape a red card in the first half for the sort of studs-up challenge that has seen other players sent off in recent weeks.
Marco Silva, Fulham's manager, was flabbergasted VAR did not upgrade Gusto's yellow card for catching former Chelsea winger Willian with an ugly lunge shortly before half-time. “It was a mistake from the VAR, a clear red card,” he said, admitting that referee Anthony Taylor was probably unsighted. “It was difficult for him to see, so he gave yellow, but VAR should have overturned the decision. In the Premier League that would be a red card 9 times out of 10.”
Pochettino had some sympathy, admitting Gusto was sent off for a less serious challenge recently.
“Against Villa he got red and I didn't complain then. But I respect Marco Silva and if I was in his place I would think it was a red, too.”
For Fulham, it was a continuation of their miserable form away from home, where they have not won since the season's opening day. But Silva believes they have enough about them to start picking up points on the road, and with Craven Cottage close to the 'fortress' he claimed, they should avoid being drawn into a relegation battle.
4-2-3-1 Petrovic 7; Gusto 6 (Gilchrist 89), Disasi 6, Thiago Silva 7, Colwill 6; Caicedo 6, Fernandez 7; Palmer 7 (Chukwuemeka 89), Gallagher 6, Sterling 6 (Chilwell 77); Broja 5 (Madueke 66)
4-2-3-1 Leno 7; Tete 6 (Castagne 64) , Adarabioyo 7, Diop 5, Robinson 6; Palhinha 7 (Lukic 82), Cairney 6; Wilson 6 (De Cordova-Reid 62), Pereiera 7 (Muniz 82), Willian 7; Raul Jiminez 6
: Anthony Taylor 6
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