Chelsea win ramps up pressure on new signing as Pochettino rescued vs Blades
Pictures from Chelsea’s clash with Sheffield United
Chelsea scraped a 2-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon in an unconvincing but much-needed victory for Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues overcame a shaky start to take the lead in the 54th minute when Cole Palmer tapped home from close range after a neat passing move before Nicolas Jackson doubled his side’s lead moments later when tapping into an empty net after a series of defensive errors by the Sheffield United backline. Express Sport takes a look at four key talking points from the match…
Palmer remains Pochettino’s saving grace
Having failed to make an impact in the first half, Palmer burst into life after the half-time interval and showcased why Chelsea were desperate to acquire his services. The ex-Manchester City star’s goal and assist will have relieved the pressure mounting on Pochettino in the short-term, making a significant impact in the No. 10 role rather than out on the right wing.
Immense pressure on Nkunku
Expectations are incredibly high for Christopher Nkunku, and Chelsea’s display underlined why the coaching staff at the club believe that he will be the final piece of the puzzle at the club. The France international thrived at RB Leipzig by being given a licence to roam and he should be given that freedom by Pochettino. Chelsea still need a player who has a burst of pace to inject fear into their attacks, and Nkunku has that in abundance.
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Ineffective Jackson
It is no secret that Chelsea are in the market for a new No. 9, and Jackson’s goal should not halt their pursuit. Despite bagging his seventh goal of the season, the 22-year-old offered very little against Sheffield United, being caught offside on several occasions and making ordinary runs that were comfortable for his opponents to deal with. The ex-Villarreal striker does not look up to the job of leading the line for the Blues on a weekly basis and could quickly become a rotational option by February.
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Three points only papers over the cracks
Chelsea had to dig deep to beat Sheffield United, and they may not be truly proud of that. Pochettino’s side underwhelmed for extended periods against the Blades despite being afforded time and space in possession, with players looking unsure of the patterns of play required to open up the Blades’ backline. Relying on moments of magic from star players, such as Palmer, is unsustainable for Pochettino and the three points must be taken with a pinch of salt.
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