CHELSEA are set to sign set-piece specialists despite manager Mauricio Pochettino dismissing their importance.
The Blues have lagged this season under Pochettino as they are 11th in the Premier League and lost the Carabao Cup final to Jurgen Klopp’s young Liverpool side – despite splashing £1billion in two years.
The West Londoners are also struggling in set-pieces as Pochettino’s men have only scored six times from set plays this term, while other teams are already in double figures.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea’s co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have already sounded out candidates to work within the new department.
The set-piece department will operate across the entire club, rather than focusing solely on the senior team.
However, there is no indications as to how closely those coaches would work with Pochettino and his staff.
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The Argentine tactician insisted he doesn’t need that kind of help by declaring “football belongs to the players, not to the specialists”.
Pochettino said last month: “We work a lot on set-pieces. We have specialists.
“We are a coaching staff in charge of everything. We have a group of analysts for set-pieces.
“After that, it is about the quality of the player. It is about the takers. We don’t have a specialist. Maybe Chilly [Ben Chilwell] is good in the delivery, but we don’t have a specialist after that.
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“When you have good takers, and of course, Wolves have good takers, and like Manchester City have or other clubs.
“It is not down to the work. We work similarly. But the problem is to have good takers.”
This turn of events raises questions as to how much influence Pochettino currently has at Chelsea.
When asked about Conor Gallagher’s contract, which runs out in 2025, the ex-Tottenham boss suggested this is between the club and the player as he has to stay “in his place”.
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Pochettino said on Friday: “It’s only between the club and Conor that can make the deal. I am the coach that needs to be in my place. I cannot say nothing.”
Asked why he would not comment, the ex-Southampton boss said: “Because there is nothing to win for me. What am I going to say? I am the head coach.
“My job is to coach the team and to pick the decisions for tomorrow [against Brentford], for the starting 11 and squad, and try to improve the players and try to win games. That is my job.
“We have a very good relationship with the owners and sporting directors.
“My office is always open and we have a very good relationship and dialogue. We are open to help in the way they think or believe we can help.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
