Pochettino must see £38.5m Chelsea star improve in one key area vs Aston Villa

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Mauricio Pochettino needs to see Axel Disasi present an enhanced sense of defensive awareness when Chelsea host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Villans travel to Stamford Bridge as one of the top-flight’s most lethal offensive teams so far this season. Unai Emery’s claret-and-blue squad have scored 11 goals in their five fixtures to date. Five of the Birmingham outfit’s side have also scored twice with their efforts shared.

Only Liverpool have kept Aston Villa from scoring so far this term, as well. The Reds won 3-0 at Anfield at the start of September. But Emery’s team responded to edge Crystal Palace 3-1. Villa also beat Everton 4-0 and Burnley 3-1 after losing 5-1 at Newcastle on the opening day.

Aston Villa hunt back-to-back wins at Chelsea for the first time since 1960

Now, Aston Villa’s sights are set on hitting the back of Chelsea’s net and taking back-to-back wins at Stamford Bridge. Emery oversaw a 2-0 win in west London in April as Graham Potter stood in the home dugout. It marked Villa’s first away win at Chelsea since December 2011.

Chelsea will be desperate to avoid a repeat result on Sunday as Pochettino now prepares his Blues side to face Aston Villa. The Stamford Bridge club are still trying to get going under the Argentine in the Premier League. He has only claimed one win and two draws in five games.

Pochettino needs to see Disasi improve against Aston Villa this Sunday

To help Chelsea avoid back-to-back home defeats to Aston Villa for the first time since 1960 on Sunday, Pochettino will want to see Disasi improve his defensive awareness. The 25-year-old was not at his best during the Blues’ fixtures with Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

Nottingham Forest edged Chelsea for the first time since 1997 earlier this month before the Cherries claimed a goalless draw. Disasi was solid in the air and was mostly comfortable with the ball in both matches. But he gave Bournemouth several chances to break the deadlock.

Disasi gifted Bournemouth opportunities with some rash challenges and wayward passes at Dean Court. Inches separated the centre-back from conceding a penalty, too. So, Pochettino will hope the defender Chelsea paid AS Monaco £38.5m to sign in August shows progress.