They say size doesn’t matter. Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino would argue to the contrary.
Of the 10 outfield players that started in Sunday’s loss at Everton, only four were 6ft or over – Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Cole Palmer and Armando Broja.
There is a particular lack of height in centre midfield: Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher are vertically challenged in an area of the pitch where every inch counts.
Aerially, it leaves Chelsea in a difficult spot. It means the central midfielders cannot attack high balls through the middle leaving one of the centre-backs to step forward to fulfil that necessity.
It’s part of the reason why Pochettino has persisted with playing 6ft 2ins centre-half Levi Colwill at left-back this season. It may also explain why 19-year-old Chimuanya Ugochukwu, who is 6ft 3ins, has played more often than expected this term.
Chelsea endured another disappointing afternoon as they lost 2-0 against Everton on Sunday
Chelsea’s lack of height in midfield has forced Mauricio Pochettino to persist with playing 6ft 2ins centre-half Levi Colwill (pictured) at left-back this season, in the absence of Ben Chilwell
Pochettino is under no immediate danger at Stamford Bridge despite their woeful run of form
It’s a problem for Pochettino, and one he is set to recommend the club seek to rectify in January.
The Argentine’s plea for new players following the loss at Goodison Park was indicative of how concerned Pochettino is about the strength of his squad.
Public declarations of needing players isn’t how he operates. Those at Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, who have worked alongside Pochettino in terms of player recruitment, speak of a man respectful to the parameters he is working within.
‘He doesn’t demand, he recommends,’ said one source.
With that in mind, the sheer fact Pochettino felt compelled to openly promote a need for new signings is symbolic of his concern at how the season is developing.
The Argentine is under no immediate danger at Stamford Bridge. The ownership are mindful of the cards he was dealt.
But by the same token, they are restless. They want success, particularly after a near £1billion spend on new players, although how they’ve spent those fortunes have been open to conjecture and often ridicule.
There’s likely to be money to spend in January, but there is an understanding that the club are flying closer to the wind with Financial Fair Play than they’d like.
The FFP problem is why they’ve taken to selling many of the club’s academy graduates – Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to name three – because it counts as pure profit on the balance sheet.
It’s why Chelsea are refusing to internally rule out the prospect of selling Conor Gallagher, who Pochettino rates, amid ongoing uncertainty over his contractual situation.
Tottenham are keen on Gallagher as a No 8 if Chelsea decide to sell.
Moving forward, Chelsea would rather keep a tighter rein on the wage bill, the prospect of paying players in-excess of £150,000-per-week is something they are keen to avoid.
Yet, how do you attract a top player – particularly the elite striker they so desperately need – on £150,000-per-week when rival clubs will be willing to pay close to double that?
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is a target. But he is likely to cost close to £100million and knows he could earn more elsewhere with Arsenal and Manchester United both interested in the England international.
Toney certainly fits the bill in terms of the stature and athleticism he wants from his players.
Chelsea are refusing to internally rule out the prospect of selling England international Conor Gallagher, who has captained the side in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell
The club are interested in bringing in Ivan Toney but he is likely to cost close to £100million
Pochettino would ideally like a bigger central midfielder in his squad, particularly in games where he knows the opposition pose an aerial threat.
But having spent well over £200million on Caicedo and Enzo and with Romeo Lavia, who himself cost £58m, still to return from injury – you’d imagine Chelsea’s owners would prefer to spend money in other areas.
Mail Sport has also learned there is a feeling at Chelsea that they could do with strengthen at goalkeeper amid concerns over the viability of options beneath first-choice Robert Sanchez, who suffered an injury at Goodison Park.
There is also a recognition that the squad lacks genuine leadership and authority – an area Pochettino wants to address.
Whether Pochettino gets what he feels he requires to transform Chelsea’s season is another matter.
The former Spurs boss isn’t one to fully immerse himself in the transfer market politics.
He doesn’t like directly dealing with intermediaries and agents, in contrast to many of his peers who prefer to have a closer relationship with the representatives of the players his club are interested in.
Pochettino fears being used as a pawn by agents willing to tell club recruitment staff that the Chelsea boss fancies their player in hope of leveraging a move for their client.
And while Pochettino will have significant involvement over talent indication ahead of the transfer window, his involvement will be restricted to making technical recommendations.
He leave the intricacies of dealing with agents to director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanely, technical director Laurence Stewart, and Behdad Eghbali, who has taken a hands on role after fellow co-owner Todd Boehly decided to take a step back in the summer.
Mail Sport has learned that Chelsea could strengthen at goalkeeper amid concerns over the viability of options beneath first-choice Robert Sanchez, who went off injured against Everton
Behdad Eghbali (left) has taken a hands on role on transfers after fellow co-owner Todd Boehly decided to take a step back in the summer, but there has been no improvement on the pitch
Pochettino is said to have had a particularly good working relationship with Stewart, a bond that could be vital in the coming weeks.
Whether that’s the right course of action for Pochettino remains to be seen. His squad isn’t good enough, but that isn’t on him; sources indicating he had very minimal input into the summer transfer window.
So perhaps, it would be in his best interests to be more assertive next month. But that isn’t his style, although some insiders believe his reluctance to call the shots is down to a lack of grasp on the market.
In the mean time, Pochettino and his trusted aide Jesus Perez are banking on the returns to fitness of Lavia and Christopher Nkunku.
But even then the club’s approach to recruitment during the Boehly/Clearlake era has left Pochettino facing a dilemma as to where Nkunku can play.
Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke are all vying for places in wide attacking areas, there is no automatic spot for the France international. The squad’s unbalanced.
Those frustrations are extending to certain members of the squad, who are privately instructing their agents to seek moves away – which is easier said than done given the long-term contract, eight years in some cases, that have been signed.
