How Chelsea could line up under Mauricio Pochettino

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 30 May 2023 07:43 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have moved to appoint Mauricio Pochettino has the full-time replacement for Graham Potter.

The Blues announced their decision less than 24 hours after the 2022/23 Premier League season concluded, with the Stamford Bridge side having finished an embarrassing 12th given the riches that were thrown at the team during two big-spending transfer windows.

After a season in which Chelsea effectively had three managers - Thomas Tuchel, Potter then, on an interim basis, Frank Lampard - Pochettino will hope to bring some stability to the club.

But how will he set about doing this?

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While at Spurs, the Argentine used a 4-2 3-1 or a 3-4-2-1 formation. When he was at Paris Saint-Germain, it was a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, though he also experimented with a 4-4-2.

Obviously, the trend is towards a 4-2 3-1, which is his favoured system, so that’s what we have gone with for our probable line-up, with Christopher Nkunku leading the line in a summer transfer that is already done and dusted. Meanwhile, Joao Felix sits behind the Frenchman as a No.10, though clearly this depends on the Blues making his loan move permanent - something they could find complicated.

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Enzo Fernandez, now British record transfer fee holder, is in a double pivot with Mateo Kovacic - with N’Golo Kante seeming on his way out of the club.

The backline has Reece James back in his right-back role, for when he makes a return for next season.

On the opposite side is Ben Chilwell, and the centre-back pairing you see has been the most trusty for the west London outfit this campaign.

Pain for Spurs

Pochettino coming back to the Premier League will be painful for Tottenham fans, who hold the Argentine in high regard.

They are currently managerless as well, and there is frustration that Daniel Levy opted not to make a play for their former coach.

This is particularly the case given the ongoing uncertainty over who will lead Tottenham next season, with Spurs having been turned down by a string of targets.