How Chelsea can beat Burnley with three Mauricio Pochettino undroppables and surprise decision

Chelsea news as Mauricio Pochettino returns to the tried and tested for the Blues against Fulham ahead of the international break

 

Mauricio Pochettino finds himself facing a genuine selection dilemma for the first time since joining the club. It’s a situation that many anticipated would arise frequently under his leadership, but a combination of unexpected rise and persistent injuries has hindered any tinkering tendencies.

Known for his aversion to rotation, Pochettino has had limited opportunities to experiment with his team, even if he desired to do so. Despite some uncertainties at the beginning of the season, little has been left to ponder since the first matchday. Six players have started every game thus far, with the potential for a larger number had it not been for fitness concerns. Among the youthful but sizeable senior squad, eight players have started six or more of the seven games, indicating the settled nature of Pochettino’s preferred lineup. Nicolas Jackson is the only one who missed out on starting every match due to suspension, while Malo Gusto covered for Reece James and started five out of five games.

As injured players gradually return to fitness and form starts to solidify, some positions in Pochettino’s team for the upcoming Burnley match are secured, while others remain flexible. In the following sections, football.london will highlight three players who have undoubtedly earned their place in the starting lineup.

Cole Palmer

Chelsea has discovered a promising new star within their ranks. Although it may be early to make definitive judgments, the £40 million investment made to acquire Cole Palmer from Manchester City is already appearing to be excellent value for money. In his first league start against Fulham, the 21-year-old showcased an immediate impact.

Historically, the role behind the striker has held great importance under Pochettino’s management. Initially, Christopher Nkunku was considered for the position, followed by Carney Chukwuemeka. It comes as no surprise that the team faced significant challenges during the weeks without either of them or Palmer. However, with Palmer now in the lineup, everything seems to be falling into place.

Palmer displays an innate ability to find pockets of space in the forward line and on the right side, areas where Conor Gallagher and Enzo Fernandez may not be as proficient. His languid style and long legs may give his possession an unorthodox appearance, but he rarely loses the ball. As a product of Manchester City’s academy, his talent was never in doubt.

Already, Palmer has become indispensable to the team in its current form. Whether deployed on the right wing, maintaining the same balance seen at Craven Cottage, or replacing one of the midfield trio (although this seems unlikely given their established connection), his impact has been transformative. With two assists in two starts, Palmer has played a pivotal role in changing Chelsea’s fortunes in the attacking department, and it would be unwise to disrupt that dynamic.

Marc Cucurella

Why fix something that isn’t broken, right? Pochettino currently has limited options at the back, leaving only room for minor adjustments. With just one goal conceded in four games and three in the past seven, the defense hasn’t posed much of a concern.

Only a couple of weeks ago, mistakes were in the spotlight due to a lack of end product. However, with three goals in two games and a stroke of luck, attention has shifted away from the backline. It’s quite surprising considering that Marc Cucurella is playing as a right-back, a position that was unexpected for him, if he was even expected to play at all, while Levi Colwill continues at left-back.

One could argue that Thiago Silva is the only one in a position that was anticipated at this stage of the season. However, Cucurella has been a revelation in the past week. He has admirably filled the void left by the absence of Malo Gusto and Reece James, and it has yielded remarkable results.

Cucurella appears to be a man driven to prove himself, and although there is still much work to be done to overcome a challenging first year at the club, there are currently no better alternatives. Gusto remains sidelined for another game, James is unable to return even if he were fit, and disrupting the Silva-Axel Disasi partnership simply to experiment with another full-back and shift Colwill centrally wouldn’t be a prudent move.

The 25-year-old has seized an unexpected opportunity, and for now, there is no reason to deviate from it.

Mykhailo Mudryk

Assuming fitness allows, the decision is a no-brainer. Mykhailo Mudryk, who had initially gone without any starts in all competitions, has now started four consecutive matches, and glimpses of the player Chelsea had envisioned are beginning to emerge. There has been a sense for some time that Mudryk has the potential to truly shine once he finds his rhythm, and while we may not have reached that stage just yet, all the positive signs are pointing in the right direction.

In the upcoming match against Burnley, who are expected to apply heavy pressure and press high, Mudryk’s pace and direct running in behind the defense could prove to be lethal and provide an effective means of escaping tight situations. As demonstrated by Tottenham’s five-goal haul against Burnley through swift counterattacks, Chelsea will be aiming to inflict similar damage during their encounter.