Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino made some questionable decisions in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough last night.
For example, Mauricio Pochettino decided to start Cole Palmer up front instead of Armando Broja.
With Nicolas Jackson away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the latter is the only recognised centre-forward currently in Chelsea‘s squad. However, Pochettino explained to football.london and the rest of the English media after the game that Broja was not ready to play from the beginning.
Broja started in the Blues’ 4-0 FA Cup win against Preston North End last Saturday, impressing former Arsenal player Kieran Gibbs with his performance.
But the 22-year-old only recovered from a bad injury not too long ago, so his manager is trying to be cautious with him.
Mauricio Pochettino explains Armando Broja omission from starting XI
Pochettino says he is trying to manage Broja carefully after his injury problems and with Chelsea playing again on Saturday.
On the Albania international, he said: “Armando played after 60 minutes and we cannot create too many chances. You cannot say it was one player or another. Armando came from one year injured.
“We cannot start like a normal player. We need to manage and in three days we have another game. It’s difficult for a player like this to start three games in seven days.”
Will Armando Broja start against Fulham?
Palmer could not get the job done as a false 9, while Broja was only used as a second-half substitute.
When you consider that, you would expect Broja, a natural No.9, to get the nod when Chelsea welcome their west London rivals Fulham to Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
With Jackson not currently available for selection and the Blues no closer to signing a new striker, it is probably the way to go instead of using a makeshift like Palmer, though the player’s fitness is obviously something that Pochettino is going to take into account.
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