Ex-Chelsea Boss Can Do Pochettino Massive Favors!
The ex-Chelsea manager could be doing his former employer some help as he awaits a new coaching job in Italy.
Napoli, the Italian Serie A winners, need to do regarding their chemistry with the manager, Luciano Spalletti, who’s been asked to take a sabbatical as Napoli looks for a new manager.
And Graham Potter is a frontrunner.
The fans following the Blues last year with tickets from vetted sellers to Stamford Bridge will remember the Graham Potter era as one of the worst. The continuous losses and the mismanagement led Chelsea to the bottom as they failed to make a top 5 finish.
But now, Potter is set to be one of the frontrunners for the Napoli job, and he could help the Blues indirectly.
According to The Sun, Potter is waiting for Napoli to make an official move for his services as he looks to return to management. If he takes over at Napoli, he might seek to reunite with some of Chelsea’sChelsea’s fringe players at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Here’s a look at four Chelsea players whom Potter could consider signing if he becomes the manager of Napoli.
Ian Maatsen
The versatile full-back, reluctant to extend his contract with Chelsea, could soon wear a lighter shade of blue if he intends on a possible transfer. At 21, he has had limited playing time in the Premier League under Pochettino, and this could be a decent buy for Napoli.
Trevoh Chalobah
Chalobah is expected to leave Chelsea in January, and Potter, who worked with him during his time at Chelsea, might push for a reunion.
Chalobah is still a young prospect and received adequate game time under Potter in his short stint. Chalobah didn’t commit too many errors and was often a favoured player, even during win-less times with the fans who came to Stamford Bridge with tickets from vetted sellers.
If the deal goes through, Potter would be eyeing Chalobah to Italy and give him a fresh start.
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke, the young winger who has seen limited playing time this season, has had his time at Chelsea limited owing to the new signings. For Chelsea, Madueke isn’t a first choice, and a possible loan deal can help him get the exposure required. A temporary move can help him gain adequate game time and be up to the mark at the end of next season if Pochettino is looking for reinforcements.
Armando Broja
News from Napoli is that the club is selling their start striker Victor Osimhein in January. Following the controversial TikTok video posted by the club, Osimhein has expressed that he does not want to continue at the club.
Osimhein is currently linked with an exit to Chelsea, and Napoli will want to sign a striker to replace their star player. For Chelsea fans, the news of getting Osimhein should bolster their spirits as they look for success in the second half of the league.
It will be a consolation for those purchasing tickets from vetted sellers and official sources as the side is still playing without a ”Grade” striker. The likes of Osimhein will do great.
On the other side, Broja will be a suitable option for Napoli, and If Potter decides he wants to reunite with the Albanian forward, a player-plus-cash deal or a loan-to-buy arrangement might be explored. However, Napoli must consider Broja’s injury record, which carries some risk.
Robert Sanchez – Great Signing for Chelsea
Chelsea’s £25 million signing, Robert Sanchez, has significantly impacted the team’s defensive stability and performance.
Ever since his signing, he has started every game for Chelsea and has shown exceptional talent with a 75% save percentage that puts him on top among top goalkeepers.
Sanchez’s attributes are notable. Standing at 6ft 4.5in and weighing 90kg, he’s imposing in the goal.
He combines his physicality with remarkable agility and reflexes, becoming a great goalkeeper.
His efficient movements and positioning have allowed him to effectively limit his excessive steps and cover the goal.
Sanchez is skilled at positioning himself correctly, particularly for cut-backs or crosses from vast areas, and tends to remain central, both in and out of possession.
He is patient in his set position and can read shooting triggers, enabling him to react quickly to shots.
Sanchez’s use of his defenders to limit the angles for shooting allows him to anticipate the shot directions. This was quite visible in the game against Bournemouth, where he relied on Axel Disasi to block the near post when Dominic Solanke shaped up for a shot, demonstrating his clever use of defenders in his positioning strategy.
Sanchez’s impact on Chelsea exceeds his impressive statistics, contributing to the team’s defensive stability and overall performance.
Shot Anticipation
Sanchez’s ability to anticipate shots is a valuable skill. He doesn’t chase the ball or overcommit; instead, he predicts where the ball will arrive and reacts accordingly. This skill results from experience and good instincts.
The perfect positioning also helps for effectively easy saves. He often makes shots that appear as if the striker has scored. His pre-emptive prediction of shots is all due to his positioning.
A perfect example of this was at the Fulham game, and it delighted all the Chelsea fans with tickets from vetted sellers when he denied Sasa Lukic from point-blank range.
This save was a great example of agility, anticipation, and positioning.
Chelsea’s defensive improvements aren’t solely owing to Sanchez, as Pochettino is now building a good defensive setup, allowing the team to be more consistent this season.
The defenders often make blocks and limit the opposition’s chances by forcing them to shoot from vast areas.
Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi, both tall and imposing center-halves, have provided defensive stability. Their physical presence allows them to handle crosses and deliveries into the box effectively.
For Chelsea fans, it was hard to look away from Mendy, who was doing a decent job, but those with tickets from vetted sellers have now found a new hero – Sanchez.
