TalkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has questioned why Ben Chilwell has been dropped to the bench by Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The vice-captain, who is the club’s third-highest earner on £200,000 a week, has not started the Blues’ last 2 league fixtures and McCoist says it demonstrates that the manager is not fielding the best team available to him:
“You’ve got to play your strongest team and Ben Chilwell is in Chelsea’s strongest team. I don’t care what anybody says. So there has to be a level of criticism at the feet of Poch, I don’t think he’s playing his strongest team. Yes, he’s got injuries.”
Chilwell’s absence from the starting eleven has raised a few eyebrows but it is clearly a tactical decision by Pochettino, who wanted to start a more attack-minded player, in the form of Mykhailo Mudryk.
That does still raise other issues, though, about Pochettino’s choices in the back four, with Levi Colwill being deployed as a left-back currently.
Is McCoist’s criticism of Pochettino fair?
The pundit mentions that injuries have played a role in Chelsea’s early season struggles, and it shouldn’t be downplayed. Nine players are currently on the treatment table.
However, McCoist’s main point about Pochettino not fielding his best XI is fair. He seems very wedded to a 4-3-3 system, and it has led to players being deployed in positions they are not necessarily comfortable with.
Chilwell is expected to play against Brighton
While the 26-year-old has not featured from the start in recent games, the general expectation is that Pochettino will name him in the starting lineup for the Carabao Cup.
With Malo Gusto suspended, there are likely to be changes in defence, which should lead to a recall for Chilwell.
