Mauricio Pochettino must avoid enticing Chelsea option and stick with trusted star vs Bournemouth
Chelsea have conceded six goals in five games this season. The start of the 2023/24 campaign has showed glimpses of the struggles that the club suffered from during last year's disastrous season.
Levi Colwill's return from his loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion has strengthened Mauricio Pochettino's backline. The 20-year-old has played in every game so far this season, starting all four Premier League games alongside Thiago Silva.
The experienced Brazilian, 38, has partnered the Cobham graduate in Pochettino's defence, alongside summer signing Axel Disasi. Chelsea have been restricted to only three options as out-and-out centre-backs but Benoit Badiashile's return from injury means Pochettino has a headache in defence.
Having been out with a hamstring injury, the former AS Monaco man has returned to first team training over the international break and is available for selection. The question is, will Pochettino immediately put him in his starting XI or stick with his trusted lieutenant, Silva?
After the 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, one Chelsea fan called for Silva to be dropped after his role in Anthony Elanga's winner. The @talkcfc_ Instagram account wrote: «This won't go down well but I think it's time to drop Thiago Silva....
»Playing him is becoming a problem because we have to play a back 5 to shoehorn him in. Playing 4 at the back will allow us to be better going forward and I don't think we'll suffer much at the back. Nothing but respect to Thiago but I think we'd be better off without him at the minute."
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Silva replied, insisting that Chelsea play with a back four and he wasn't hindering the team. However, Badiashile's
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