LONDON – Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is putting faith in his young players as he prepares for his side’s League Cup second-round clash against League Two side AFC Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Owing to their 12th-placed finish in the Premier League last season, their worst since 1993-94, the Blues will enter the second round of the competition for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
Facing a lowly team like Wimbledon should not trouble Chelsea much, and Pochettino believes it is a chance to let his younger players show what they can do.
He said: “We are thinking to start with 11 players who can perform in the way we want.
“After our assessment and (looking at) our risk, we are going to use four or five young guys,” he said on Tuesday, without mentioning names.
He added: “Chelsea always produces good talent, young kids, now it is about opportunity.
“It is not because it is our philosophy, it’s because we have some players who cannot play tomorrow.
“Part of the project is to produce players for the first team because the players and coaches are working so hard.”
The Argentinian has not had an easy start to his tenure since he was appointed in May, as the club streamline their bloated squad by removing players he does not need.
This period of transition saw the Blues draw 1-1 with Liverpool, lose 3-1 to West Ham United before a 3-0 win over newly promoted Luton Town on Saturday.
Those results see Chelsea 10th in the Premier League on four points.
Djordje Petrovic was brought in from Major League Soccer side New England Revolution as their latest signing to bolster their goalkeeping options, and the Serb could be given a chance against Wimbledon.
However, Romeo Lavia is unlikely to make his Chelsea debut until after the September international break, joining a crowded treatment room hosting Armando Broja, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Marcus Bettinelli, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka, Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah.
“The circumstances aren’t the best with the injuries, but all of the competitions are important for Chelsea,” added Pochettino.
“We have some players that we need to avoid risk and give some rest, that is why I was saying we were so focused on assessing and analysing players.”
Unlike Chelsea, Wimbledon have not lost a single game this season.
And the Dons were denied a third straight win when Forest Green Rovers equalised late on in a 1-1 draw last Saturday.
The away side are no pushovers, as they defeated last season’s Championship play-off runners-up Coventry City 2-1 in the first round to get to this stage.
But only once have they managed to progress further, when they lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the 2021-22 third round.
“We’re going to go there, and we’re going to have a go. We’re going to try and win the game,” insisted their manager Johnnie Jackson, of the clash with Chelsea.
“It is going to be very, very difficult. God knows what team they’re going to put out, but if they turn up, and they’re on it, then it’s going to be tough for us.
“One thing I know is our boys will be right up for it, and we’re going there to give them a proper game.”
