Mauricio Pochettino ‘won’t rush’ Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia straight into Chelsea team
Posted by  badge Boss on Aug 18, 2023 - 03:40PM
The Argentine coach is willing to be patient with his new additions (Picture: Getty)

is in no rush to throw new signings and straight into his team for Sunday’s clash with West Ham, while he suggested the club could opt against signing a new striker.

The west Londoners for the second time this year by spending £115million on Caicedo earlier this week, before on teenager Lavia to complete a massive midfield rebuild.

Chelsea have spent all summer trying to secure a midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez, but Pochettino could hold off on introducing his new additions and is happy to bed them in slowly.

Asked if the pair would be ready to make their debuts on Sunday, Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference: ‘I think we need to assess, we have one day more to assess them. It was very stressful weeks for Moi [Moises] and Romeo also.

‘It’s easy to say, “Okay they will be involved Sunday in the game” but I think the most important thing is to try to avoid risks and not to rush with them.

‘If they are ready by tomorrow they will be involved. If not, we are going to wait a few days more so they can be fully involved in the squad.’

On how delighted he is to sign the two midfielders, Pochettino continued: ‘Of course the club worked really hard about that, we have to congratulate the owners and the sporting directors, Lawrence [Stewart] and Paul [Winstanley], because the job they did was amazing.

Caicedo in training with his new Chelsea team-mates (Picture: Getty)

‘To add these types of players, like Moi or Romeo now and all the previous signings, I think it was fantastic work from the club and I think we need to congratulate the job that they are doing.

‘It’s fantastic, these types of players, with the qualities that they have, to add into this squad and this project, I think it’s an amazing thing and it’s a very exciting moment and situation for the club.’

With Christopher Nkunku sidelined until the end of the year, Chelsea have been linked with bringing in attacking reinforcements but Pochettino does not want to sign anyone that could potentially limit Armando Broja’s first-team opportunities.

Asked if a forward was next on his list, Pochettino replied: ‘We are working, of course, seeing all the options that are on the market – I think all the clubs are doing the same as us – and then see the potential that we can transform into reality on this target.

‘But I think at the same time we are keeping one or two eyes on Armando Broja, because I think we cannot forget him, and we cannot stop [his development] by bringing the same profile of player that can stop his evolution.

‘We really believe in him, we know him very well. He can be a really important striker for Chelsea and we need to be careful.’

He added: ‘We cannot go for some player that maybe stops a player that we already have. Maybe we need patience and to try to adapt our squad to get positive results while we wait for Armando to get fully fit.’

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