Despite his promising Premier League debut, Mauricio Pochettino insists that Christopher Nkunku is not yet prepared to take on the leadership role in Chelsea’s frontline.
Chelsea fans had to exercise patience as one of their significant summer signings returned to competitive action after recovering from a knee injury sustained in pre-season.
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Nkunku marked his Chelsea debut in the Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle last week and further showcased his abilities by scoring with a precise header as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day.
While there were expectations that the former RB Leipzig star, known for his prolific performances in the Bundesliga, would alleviate the pressure on Nicolas Jackson, who has struggled to impress since his summer move from Villarreal.
But, Pochettino believes that Nkunku’s adaptation to English football would be more beneficial in a withdrawn role.
‘I need to be positive in a few things and this is a good thing for him, his debut in the Premier League to score. I think he’s happy but in the same time we are so disappointed because we lose the game,’ said Pochettino, speaking after the defeat at Molineux.
‘We need to move on but it is good for him now to get minutes and understand what it means to play in the Premier League. Teams are very aggressive an the football is completely different to other countries and he needs to adapt little by little.
‘I think at the moment because he comes from injury he is more like a 10 than nine, more than left or right side. I think at the moment to cope with the demand of the Premier League and what the team needs it’s more in this position.’
Meanwhile, Pochettino conceded that his Chelsea players are significantly falling short of the preseason targets set for them as they aim to find relief from their inconsistent form in the upcoming home match against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
While results at Stamford Bridge have been a positive note in recent weeks, with three consecutive wins in west London during December, the team’s fortunes on the road have taken a concerning downturn.
The defeat to Wolves marked their fourth consecutive away loss, following setbacks against Newcastle, Manchester United, and Everton. This trend has raised concerns about the team’s chances of qualifying for Europe for a second consecutive season.
Although a Carabao Cup semi-final against Championship side Middlesbrough in January could provide a potential entry into the Europa Conference League, their current 10th place in the league standings puts them 14 points behind the top four.
Pochettino acknowledged that this situation is not what he had anticipated approaching the midway point of his first Chelsea campaign.
‘We’re so far away (from the target),’ said the Blues boss. ‘Our target was to be on the top, even if no one believed us. But in the circumstance, we are fighting for different things.
‘We are Chelsea, because our history demands us to be at the top. At the moment, being realistic, we need to increase the way that we compete if we want to win more games.
‘We need to compete better than (against Wolves). I think the performance from the beginning of the season has not been bad. We can say it’s very good. But in terms of competing, we are in the bottom. That’s why we are not in a better position in the table.
‘In football you need to have the knowledge, the quality, the set-up. But at some point in football in 90 minutes, you need to compete. You need to show in the way you play football. We need to improve there, and that’s about having all the players (fit), spending time with them together.
‘We need to finish well, winning the (Palace) game, then to go to Luton (on December 30) and then start the new year with different feelings.’
