Mauricio Pochettino, the renowned football manager, has recently shared his thoughts on the best position for Christopher Nkunku in his Chelsea team. Despite a promising Premier League debut, Pochettino insists that Nkunku is not yet ready to lead Chelsea’s frontline.
Chelsea fans have been eagerly waiting to see one of their big summer signings in competitive action. However, an unfortunate knee injury during pre-season delayed Nkunku's debut. The former RB Leipzig player finally made his much-anticipated bow for Chelsea in last week’s Carabao Cup win over Newcastle.
Adding to the excitement was his performance in the Wolves match on Boxing Day where he came off the bench and scored with a precise header, albeit in a 2-1 defeat. This performance further fueled expectations that he would ease the burden on Nicolas Jackson who has struggled since his own summer move from Villarreal.
While a new striker search is in process, Nkunku will play a withdrawn role to keep the dynamics of the team in mind
Despite these high hopes and promising performances, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that it would be more beneficial for both Nkunku and the team if he were deployed in a more withdrawn role rather than leading the frontline.
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, said:
‘I need to be positive in a few things and this is a good thing for him, his debut in the Premier League to score. I think he’s happy but in the same time we are so disappointed because we lose the game,’ said Pochettino, speaking after the defeat at Molineux.
‘We need to move on but it is good for him now to get minutes and understand what it means to play in the Premier League. Teams are very aggressive an the football is completely different to other countries and he needs to adapt little by little.
‘I think at the moment because he comes from injury he is more like a 10 than nine, more than left or right side. I think at the moment to cope with the demand of the Premier League and what the team needs it’s more in this position.’
Pochettino argues that this strategic shift will better serve Nkunku’s adaptation to English football. Given Pochettino's extensive experience and understanding of player development within different leagues, this perspective carries significant weight.
While fans may be eager to see Nkunku take on a more prominent role, Pochettino's insights suggest that a gradual approach might be the key to unlocking his full potential. As with all strategic decisions in football, only time will tell if this approach proves successful.
