On his first Monday in his new job, Mauricio Pochettino should this morning watch out for the revolving door at Chelsea headquarters. As he settles in as manager, he can anticipate as many farewells as greetings, his urgent challenge to reduce the wild guesswork around what his first line-up will look like come mid-August and the opening fixture of the new Premier League season against Liverpool.
Pochettino inherits a squad where high turnover has become endemic. Less than 10 months ago, when Thomas Tuchel, one of four different men to have managed Chelsea since last September, took charge for the last time, he had a central midfield of Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount, supplemented by Jorginho in the later stages of a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
That trio had served Tuchel in the winning final of the 2021 Champions League; in Croatia, Tuchel would have like N’Golo Kante involved and regretted the absence, through injury, of the Frenchman who, said Tuchel, “who simply makes players better around him.”
Up front in Zagreb were Kai Havertz and the then new recruit Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Kalidou Koulibaly, freshly signed from Napoli, joined Cesar Azpilicueta in an experienced back three. Edu Mendy had been left out from the previous fixture to give the goalkeeping gloves to Kepa Arrizabalaga. As Tuchel chased in vain an equaliser, Hakim Ziyech came on, as did Christian Pulisic.
By this September, Pochettino expects to be giving instructions to none of those players except perhaps Kepa, a measure of the extraordinary instability and churn of personnel at Chelsea – a club that changed ownership in May 2022 and has since spent over £650 million on transfer fees, appointed two ‘permanent’ and two interim managers and finished 12th in England’s top division, an all-time low in the 31 years since the Premier League came into being, and far too low to qualify for Europe.
Chelsea season ratings
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CHELSEA 2022/23 SEASON RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6. After starting the season on the bench, he made the No 1 jersey his own with an excellent run of form. Performances tailed off as Chelsea's season unravelled, and while Kepa didn't do much wrong, he hardly saved his team either. Getty. -
Edouard Mendy - 5. A shaky start to the season saw Mendy dropped to the bench, while a long-term shoulder injury prevented the Senegalese stopper from trying to reclaim his place. Returned to the squad in April and hardly to blame for Chelsea's demise. Getty -
Trevoh Chalobah - 6. Effort and dedication can't be faulted but the Academy graduate looked out of his depth at times. Should be used as a reliable squad player next season. Getty -
Kalidou Koulibaly - 5. The Senegalese defender veered from commanding to comical - sometimes in the same game. Whether this was a first-season adjustment period or if Koulibaly is on the decline, it will be interesting to see if we get to find out or if the former Napoli star will depart. Getty -
Benoit Badiashile - 7. The 22-year-old January signing looked good in the appearances he was afforded, and should be given a much bigger role next season. Reuters -
Wesley Fofana - 5. Arrived with a massive price tag and to huge excitement last summer, the French defender's season was one blighted by injury. When Fofana returned to the team, he looked off the pace and struggled for form. One of many players who should benefit from a reset ahead of the new season. Getty -
Thiago Silva - 7. At 39 years old, the Brazilian is still Chelsea's best central defender. Called upon to play more games than was probably initially planned as the season unravelled. Still classy but it became increasingly clear he's now best in the middle of a back three. Will be a huge leader next season as Chelsea attempt to pick up the pieces. Getty -
Marc Cucurella - 3. The poster boy for Chelsea's reckless and thoughtless transfer strategy. The Spanish fullback can't be accused of a lack of effort but looked well short of the £60m the Blues paid Brighton for his services. Expected to leave in a cut-price deal this summer. Reuters -
Ben Chilwell - 6. A season severely disrupted by injury, Chilwell's various absences hit Chelsea hard. Ended the season with another injury, and will hope to fully recover to hit the ground running after the summer. AFP -
Lewis Hall - 7. The youngster's emergence was both a promising sign for Chelsea's future and symbolic of a disastrous transfer policy that saw Cucurella signed for £60m when Hall proved to be more than capable at left-back. Full of energy and enthusiasm and impactful going forward. Work to do defensively but he's only 18. Getty -
Reece James - 6. Limited to just 24 appearances in all competitions, James' worrying injury record extended into another season. No coincidence that Chelsea's alarming slump began when he was first sidelined. Getty -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 5. As committed and professional as ever but respectfully, the captain's legs went this season. Sustained a nasty concussion which did not help his cause. If he remains beyond the summer, the Spaniard should be used very much as a dressing room influence. Reuters -
Enzo Fernandez - 7. The Argentine midfielder arrived in January fresh off a World Cup triumph and with a reputation as one of the brightest stars in world football. Showed moments of quality during a difficult spell for Chelsea, and will be a major player next season. Reuters -
N'Golo Kante - 6. Another important player hit by injury for much of the season, the French midfielder's quality and energy were sorely missed. Typically lively when he made his return to the team. His future needs to be resolved. Getty -
Denis Zakaria - 5. On loan from Juventus, the Swiss midfielder was not really part of any of the three managers' plans this season, although did OK when given games. EPA -
Conor Gallagher - 7. Endured a disastrous start to the season but improved as the campaign wore on when he was given more game time. Provided plenty of energy and was a greater goal threat than many of Chelsea's forward players. With the likes of Kante and Kovacic - and even Mount - potentially leaving, Gallagher could have a key role next season. EPA -
Mateo Kovacic - 6. The Croatian has been superb throughout his Chelsea career but there was a noticeable drop off this season. Still helped the Blues control possession for most games but the cut and thrust that make Kovacic such an influential midfielder were not quite at the same level. Big question marks about his future. EPA -
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 5. Very much a squad player who struggled to make his mark this season. The Academy graduate is reportedly the subject of interest from AC Milan and could be part of the expected mass exodus. AFP -
Carney Chukwuemeka - 6. The teenager signed from Aston Villa last summer was limited in his appearances but looks an exciting talent. AFP -
Mason Mount - 4. Having emerged as arguably Chelsea's best player the previous two seasons, this was a significant setback. Injuries played a part but three goals in 35 appearances was hugely disappointing. Confidence looked shot by the time his campaign ended prematurely. Despite the poor season, Chelsea will hope to resolve his future to prevent a potentially damaging move to a rival. PA -
Kai Havertz - 6. Chelsea's leading goalscorer this season but with nine in all competitions, that isn't saying much. The German is an outrageously talented player but was again the victim of Chelsea's failure to sign a recognised striker. Will the next manager finally play Havertz at No 10 before it's too late and he leaves? Reuters -
Mykhaylo Mudryk - 5. After Chelsea beat Arsenal to the Ukrainian's signature and he enjoyed a blistering cameo, the hype only increased. That's about as good as it got for Mudryk in his first half season. Blessed with extreme pace but still a raw talent, Mudryk should kick on next season. Getty -
Christian Pulisic - 4. A knee injury hardly helped but the American was ineffective before and after. A single goal in 29 appearances is nowhere near good enough. Could be another to exit Stamford Bridge this summer. AFP -
Raheem Sterling - 4. Signed as an oven-ready solution to help solve Chelsea's goalscoring woes, Sterling was a shadow of the prolific Manchester City player. Scored nine goals in 37 appearances and generally posed little threat when on the ball. Can still be an important player next season. Getty -
Noni Madueke - 7. Part of the mad January transfer splurge, Madueke is another exciting young talent who showed glimpses of his potential. Should contribute plenty more next season. PA -
Hakim Ziyech - 5. Became a peripheral player and almost left on loan to PSG in January, only for the classic fax machine mishap to occur. The Moroccan, who was superb at the World Cup, is a talented player but it's not quite happened at Chelsea. Surely on the move. PA -
Joao Felix - 8. A rare bright spark in a bleak season for Chelsea, despite getting sent off on his debut and his loan fee hardly making financial sense. It was a scandal that Felix wasn't a regular starter during Lampard's brief, and disastrous, spell in charge as the Portuguese was the one attacking player who consistently created chances and scored a few goals. Unlikely to remain beyond this season. AFP -
Armando Broja - 5. The Academy graduate loooked like he could have been a useful squad option but his season was cut short after a cruciate injury during a mid-season friendly in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
David Datro Fofana - 6. A lively debut, after arriving in January, raised hopes Chelsea might have a exciting new striker on their hands. Except he barely played after that. Looks a talent, though. PA -
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 2. A return of three goals in 22 appearances marked a miserable return to the Premier League for the former Arsenal captain. Shot of confidence and sharpness, Aubameyang appears destined for the exit. EPA -
Thomas Tuchel - 6. Oversaw the opening weeks of the season when Chelsea struggled for form. Still, his exit was an enormous shock and the season continued to unravel from there. Has since pitched up at Bayern Munich and won the Budesliga. EPA -
Graham Potter - 3. Perhaps it was the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, but Potter hardly helped his cause either. After an encouraging start, quickly looked out of his depth when results went south, and was sacked after winning just 12 of his 31 games in charge. Reuters -
Frank Lampard - 1. Granted, he inherited a mess but the return of Chelsea's greatest player to the dugout failed to inspire a turnaround. Lost his first six matches in interim charge, his team selection was muddled, and he admitted himself he didn't know how or where to play Joao Felix, so he didn't. Which is unforgivable. Where Lampard goes from here is anyone's guess. Getty
The revolving door turned fast for Koulibaly, who has joined the caravan of stars to Saudi Arabia’s Pro League, signing for Al Hilal for around half the £33 million Chelsea paid for him. Aubameyang – who made a mere five Premier League starts last season – is up for sale and may head to the same league, where Kante (Al Ittihad, on a free) and Mendy (Al Hilal, for £16 million) will both now be pursuing their careers. Azpilicueta, 33, looks set to move back to his native Spain, while Ziyech is also being pushed to an exit.
Pochettino has been promised a fresh start by his new bosses, but there are constraints. Chelsea’s heavy spending over the last two transfer windows and the projected revenue adjustments caused by playing in no Uefa competitions in 2023/24 oblige the club to be mindful of Financial Fair Play limits on the ratio of expenditure to income. And Chelsea have become a harder sell for the class of player for whom involvement in Europe – preferably the Champions League – is a prerequisite.
Kovacic will play in the Uefa Champions League next season, as will Mount, Havertz and Jorginho. That quartet have all joined clubs who finished in England’s top four in May, and have ambitions to add to the European Cup medals they won under Tuchel with Chelsea. Kovacic has the best chance, having joined Manchester City.
Mount’s imminent move to Manchester United meanwhile marks a significant crossroads for the Chelsea he grew up with – a genuine home-grown star has been sold. The see-saw of shifting power in London is emphasised by Havertz’s agreeing to join Arsenal, as Jorginho did in January. Once the Mount deal is finalised, at around €60 millon, Chelsea will have brought in £150 million from rival Premier League clubs, with Arsenal paying £65 millon for Havertz and City £25 millon for Kovacic.
Whether they thrive in the way other famous past Chelsea discards, such as Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, did will be Pochettino’s concern only if Arsenal, City and United further consolidate their status in the upper rungs of the Premier League and again leave Chelsea trailing them outside the top four.
Havertz was Chelsea’s top scorer last season, and by the close of the summer window, he will likely be one of a number of attacking players to have departed. Aubameyang is studying exit options while AC Milan, who have already signed Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea, are keen on Pulisic.
But Pochettino’s preseason will be boosted with two incoming strikers, Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, signed for a combined £80 million-plus from RB Leipzig and Villarreal. They are internationals, with France and Senegal, and 25 and 22 years old, so in the same age bracket as midfielder Enzo Fernandez, wingers Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke and defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana, on whom huge money was invested during the rollercoaster 2022-23.
Around those young talents, Pochettino can see the spine of an exciting, energetic side, but he will need a period of calm and patience to properly cultivate it.
