Mauricio Pochettino sends clear message to senior Chelsea stars ahead of Bournemouth

Mauricio Pochettino wants his more experienced Chelsea players to step up against AFC Bournemouth this weekend in what has been a slow start to the season. The Blues have already lost twice in the Premier League, while winning one and drawing a game, too.

Last time out, prior to the two-week international break that has recently concluded, Chelsea were beaten by a single goal at home to Nottingham Forest. The Blues failed to find the net despite having 21 shots throughout the 90-or-so minutes at Stamford Bridge.

It was another frustrating afternoon for Chelsea – in something very similar to what we saw from the side time after time last term. Pochettino, who has been at Chelsea since the beginning of the summer, continues to call for patience but also appreciates that a club of this stature requires short-term success as well.

That's why, ahead of the trip down to the south coast on Sunday afternoon, he has called on some of his more experienced and senior players – in a very young squad – to step up and be counted.

«To control the game you need your whole squad fit and involved if you want to control the game,» Pochettino said. «You need the same quality and the players that come from the bench need to be an impact. You need to have quality. If you have all the players fit for sure.

»You can say about Jackson, but Jackson needs Sterling and Sterling needs Jackson. Nkunku is injured, Madueke was injured. They all have their own problems and at the moment they are all so focused on trying to be fit.

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«Then you add the pressure saying you need to help the team and perform for your teammate. These things need to be altogether, it is