After their disappointing FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, Chelsea look to bounce back against London rivals Arsenal – but will have to do so without player of the season Cole Palmer
COBHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 28: Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino of Chelsea speaks during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on March 28, 2024 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Pochettino has made his feelings clear to his inconsistent side
Mauricio Pochettino has challenged his stars to show they play for Chelsea Football Club not Cole Palmer Football Club if their main man is missing tonight.
Palmer is a doubt for Chelsea’s London derby trip to title-chasing Arsenal due to illness. Since his late September full debut 20-goal talisman Palmer has been a near ever present for Chelsea, leaving Pochettino safe in the knowledge he can rely on the youngster’s presence as well as his huge quality.
Palmer has faced a challenge for the Chelsea limelight at times this season, with teammates trying to wrestle penalty talking duties away from him on more than one occasion. But they may get their chance to shine in his absence at the Emirates.
Pochettino, who admitted he is unsure who will assume spot-kick responsibilities if Palmer does not make it, said: “It’s a good challenge for the teammates of course. If I am a teammate of Cole Palmer in his position or a similar position, for sure, I am going to be motivated to go there tomorrow and show this is Chelsea Football Club, not Cole Palmer football club.
“It is a good example for them why is he doing so well and why are they not capable to do the same.
“I think they are not jealous. They only want the same pill we provide Palmer! It’s a joke! They ask what you are doing for Palmer, we want the same.”
Pochettino also defended Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo ahead of a potential three-way battle of the £100m-plus midfielders with Arsenal’s Declan Rice. Rice, a former Blues youngster and target, has outshone the Chelsea pair since his £105m switch from West Ham last summer.
Pochettino said: “But Declan Rice was playing for West Ham for I don’t know how many years, with the experience and as an English guy knowing the Premier League and knowing the language.”
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Mauricio Pochettino speaks with Cole Palmer
Pochettino’s side will be without Cole Palmer (
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On Fernandez, who was unable to help Chelsea reach the FA Cup final against Manchester City after being absent for their 6-0 thrashing of Everton in their previous game, Pochettino said:
“There are too many negative things that happened. The positive is he won the World Cup and moved to Chelsea [in January 2023 for £106m] but other aspects have made it difficult for him to adapt and to perform so quickly.
“There is no doubt this season was the season to know what it means to play in the Premier League, how tough it is and to know the culture, the environment, the language and to adapt better for the future.”
Meanwhile, £115m Caicedo has underwhelmed at Chelsea so far too. And, not for the first time this season, one of his tackles forced an opponent off injured at Wembley. City star Jack Grealish went the same way as Newcastle ’s Anthony Gordon and Liverpool ’s Ryan Gravenberch earlier in the campaign.
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Pochettino added: “In all these situations he was a little bit more anxious or nervous about performing, to maybe push himself to go to the edge, the limit.
“But I think now it is much better. He is more calm, relaxed, and we are happy with the way he was.”
