Mauricio Pochettino Explains Christopher Nkunku’s Absence from Chelsea Squad
Christopher Nkunku, who recently made his debut for Chelsea, was surprisingly left out of the squad for their 4-0 FA Cup victory over Preston on Saturday. Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea manager, shed light on the decision.
Nkunku had featured in the team’s last four fixtures, but his absence from the squad raised eyebrows. The 26-year-old was signed by Chelsea for £52m in the summer but had to wait until December to make his debut due to injury problems. Unfortunately, it seems like he might be facing another spell on the sidelines.
Pochettino explained that they didn’t want to put pressure on Nkunku, considering his previous lengthy injury layoff. The player suffered a hip problem during training, which prevented his involvement in the recent match. Pochettino expressed uncertainty about Nkunku’s availability for upcoming games and emphasized the need to assess his fitness.
When asked about the challenges of getting players back to full fitness after long spells of injury, Pochettino acknowledged the difficulties. He highlighted the importance of game time for players to regain their best form but also acknowledged the pressure to win, which sometimes makes it challenging to provide sufficient playing opportunities.
In related news, Mauricio Pochettino has urged a Chelsea star to change his body language after their FA Cup win. He has also remained coy about the possibility of signing Jordan Henderson from Liverpool in January.
Overall, Nkunku’s absence from the squad and Pochettino’s explanation shed light on the challenges of managing player fitness and competition within a top football club like Chelsea.