Chelsea headache solved by Mauricio Pochettino as Nicolas Jackson truth revealed vs Brentford

Mauricio Pochettino made something very clear on Saturday afternoon when the lineups were announced on Saturday.

There were questions going into the game over who would start in goal for Chelsea following the win against Leeds United in midweek. Going into December, Robert Sanchez was the undisputed No.1 goalkeeper, while Djordje Petrovic was viewed as a player with a really bright future but someone who needed to develop before even being considered.

But as is so often the case in football, when one door closes, another one opens. And that was certainly the case here.

Petrovic deputised after Sanchez picked up an injury against Everton at Goodison Park. Pochettino did not really have too much choice other than go with the Serbian shot-stopper, who was signed from New England Revolution the summer before.

It was big pressure for Petrovic but he seemed to thrive in between the posts. After heroics in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United, where he was the hero in a penalty shootout, Petrovic has gone from strength to strength.

He looks more composed with the ball at his feet than Sanchez does and that is a huge thing for Pochettino. His shot-stopping, the bread and butter for a goalkeeper, is also superb. Chelsea look to have signed a real gem there and Pochettino’s outlook on the goalkeeping situation was very clearly revealed against Brentford on Saturday.

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In front of the goalkeeper at the Gtech Community Stadium was something new. Pochettino went with three-at-the-back for the first time since the very beginning of the season.