Chelsea vice-captain, Ben Chilwell, has voiced his concerns over the need for stronger leadership within the squad. This comes in the wake of a touchline tantrum by manager Mauricio Pochettino during their recent 1-0 victory in the Fulham fixture.
Chilwell believes that an infusion of experienced leadership could significantly improve Chelsea’s youthful team. Despite their win over Fulham, he highlighted that the squad could still benefit from seasoned leaders to guide them through challenging matches and situations.
The Chelsea left-back made these comments after returning from a three-month injury lay-off towards the end of Saturday’s match. His call for greater leadership may not sit well with Conor Gallagher, who has been captaining the side this season in Chilwell and Reece James' absence.
Chelsea left-back, Ben Chilwell, said:
"We're a very young team, "We just need a bit more leadership. Personally I want to take on that role and help the team out in that respect. Energy, getting forward when I can while defensively being solid. It's a very talented squad so we're going to get there, hopefully we can flick the switch soon."
Gallagher was involved in heated exchange with Pochettino
Pochettino was seen berating Gallagher during Saturday’s narrow victory. The stand-in skipper found himself on the receiving end of a heated exchange with his boss after overlooking options ahead and opting to pass backwards.
This incident underscores some potential issues with Pochettino’s decision to put his trust in youth this campaign. His captaincy group comprises three players yet to enter their peak years, which is an unconventional approach compared to other Premier League clubs.
On average, Chelsea have fielded the youngest starting XIs among all Premier League clubs this season. Co-owner Todd Boehly has implemented a unique transfer policy focused on signing prospects under 25 years old en masse.
However, this strategy seems to be causing difficulties as they struggle against more experienced teams within the division. Their recent 1-0 victory over Fulham, with Cole Palmer scoring the winning goal, was a crucial step in the right direction. Yet, it also highlighted the challenges of maintaining consistency and competitiveness with a youthful squad.
While Pochettino’s faith in young talent is commendable, Chilwell's comments suggest that balancing this with experienced leadership could be key to Chelsea's success moving forward. The manager's decision not to select 39-year-old Thiago Silva for captaincy earlier this season may have been controversial but it also underlines his commitment to nurturing young talent.
As Chelsea continues its journey through the Premier League season, it will be interesting to see how they navigate these challenges and whether they can find an effective balance between youth and experience within their squad.
