Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s manager, faced serious questions after his team’s disappointing performance against Wolves. The 4-2 defeat at home saw the Stamford Bridge faithful expressing their anger through booing and chants, reflecting the frustration with the team’s display. Matheus Cunha’s hat-trick and an own goal by Axel Disasi contributed to Wolves’ victory, sending Chelsea into the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Pochettino’s recent 10-match undefeated run at home was overshadowed by the inability to secure a win against a team directly below his in the standings. The issues he has been vocal about, such as a lack of aggression, poor finishing, and mistakes on the ball, were evident in the match, raising concerns about his ability to build a cohesive team from a group of young players.
The struggles in possession were highlighted, with players like Moises Caicedo, Malo Gusto, Conor Gallagher, and Enzo Fernandez giving away the ball too easily, allowing Wolves to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities. Even Chelsea’s attackers, including Raheem Sterling and Christopher Nkunku, failed to make an impact.
Amidst the disappointment, Cole Palmer stood out as a bright spot for Chelsea, scoring the opening goal and showcasing his quality and composure on the ball. With 10 league goals to his name this season, Palmer has proven to be a standout performer for the team. Pep Guardiola’s comparison of Tottenham as the “Harry Kane team” has now shifted to Chelsea being reliant on Palmer’s contributions.
As the pressure mounts on Pochettino, Chelsea faces a challenging run of fixtures with 15 league games left to address the pressing issues. The team’s performance against Wolves has raised serious concerns about their ability to compete at the highest level in the Premier League.
