It is another summer of big charge at Chelsea as new manager Mauricio Pochettino gets his feet under the desk and continues to reshape his expensively assembled squad after even more spending since the summer transfer window opened.
With plenty of additional departures to be expected as we look to balance the books and tighten the squad up so they can better gel on the pitch, one player who is determined to greatly improve on last seasons very disappointing league finish is full back Ben Chilwell.
For those who like a flutter, there are potentially very good odds available at bet365on Chelsea strongly improving on their form last season. The calibre of the players that we are bringing in will certainly spike expectations and anticipation, as will the arrival of Pochettino himself given the reputation he has built for himself in recent years, and the uplift in optimism will certainly be reflected in individual match odds as the campaign progresses. The odds and offers from these UK bookmakers could further improve if the new gaffer hits the ground running and picks up some early, good results.
Having signed a new contract extension back in April, 26 year old Chilwell departed for our pre season tour of the United States as the third oldest outfield player now left at the club given the 29 man squad that flew out, but he was willing to see the funny side of it.
“I’ve been told that quite a lot recently. I don’t like hearing that at 26 years old.”
It seems clear that Pochettino is focusing on youth for his rebuild, and Chilwell knows that means that he is one of the players that needs to step up given his more senior position and his greater experience.
“There’s only a number of us that were here last season so we really feel more responsibility to be the leaders in the group, to help these younger players and lead by example on the pitch. There’s a lot of players here that are very talented but we also need to make sure that they know playing for Chelsea means that we do have to win trophies.”
With our new gaffer already confirming that he would not yet be naming an official club captain for the coming season until he has got to know the players far better, Chilwell has had the captains role before and he personally felt it actually help him raise his own game and performance levels.
“I would love to be captain. I’m sure you’ve had that answer off a few of the players. I was captain of the youth team at Leicester and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it brings the best out in me and my game, having a little bit more pressure and trying to help people around me. I think it’s one of my strengths. I don’t think you need an armband to be a leader though, so whether I get it or I don’t I’ll continue to do what I’m doing.”
You would imagine that he would certainly be in Pochettino’s thinking for the potential role given his more experienced position within the squad, but with the big kick off edging ever nearer now, it is a decision to be made later as right now the focus has to be on fitness and sharpness so that we can begin to push back up the table and get ourselves back in the mix for success, and Chilwell himself admitted that last year standards had obviously dropped.
“Last season we weren’t fit enough, if we’re being honest. Obviously there were way too many injuries, personally and as a team, which potentially comes down to fitness levels. This pre-season so far, seeing the way we’re working, you can now look back and say ‘I wasn’t as fit last season as I am now’. The first week was a bit of a shock for everyone!”
All eyes to the first game and see how we start at this time of asking.
