Chelsea manager Maurice Pochettino admits his side have failed to meet their pre-season targets and are currently behind in the Premier League race. Despite Chelsea's excellent performances at home, they have lost four consecutive away games outside of Stamford Bridge, making it difficult for them to qualify for the Champions League and currently sit in the bottom half of the table. Pochettino said their goal is to be at the top of the table, but due to the current situation, they have to fight for a different goal.
Pochettino admits Chelsea's overall form is not bad, but they are lacking in athleticism. He emphasised the importance of competition in football and said Chelsea must improve in this area if they want to win more games. The head coach also stressed the importance of all players in the squad staying fit and spending more time together to improve performance.
In terms of injuries, Moises Caicedo is set to return due to illness, but Leslie Ugochuk is still grappling with a hamstring problem. Mauricio Pochettino was disappointed and frustrated by Chelsea's injury problems and praised the medical team's efforts in preventing and aggravating such issues. Looking ahead, Pochettino stressed the importance of a good finish to the next game against Crystal Palace and a different mindset. In addition, Chelsea have a chance to qualify for the Europa Conference League through the Premier League semi-final against Middlesbrough in January. However, Pochettino admits Chelsea are far from their target at the moment and they must be competitive if they are to climb the table.