The real reason why Mauricio Pochettino keeps playing Levi Colwill at left-back for Chelsea

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The decision from Mauricio Pochettino to keep playing Levi Colwill at left-back this season is one that has baffled some Chelsea supporters.

Levi Colwill, who’s still only 20, came through the Blues academy system as a highly-rated central defender.

The centre-half enjoyed a step into senior football during the last couple of years with impressive loans at Huddersfield Town and Brighton, so there was a lot of excitement around Stamford Bridge when he was promoted into Chelsea’s first team this campaign.

However, we’re seeing the left-footed defender spend more time this term as a full-back than a centre-back.

The senior England international has looked steady at left-back and is showing great versatility to slot in, but we’re worried that it’s not getting the best out of him during crucial years of his development.

Mauricio Pochettino trying to counter Chelsea weakness

A report from The Daily Mail has now explained the reason behind the slightly odd tactical decision from Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

It is understood that part of the reason why Pochettino continues to shoehorn Colwill into the line-up at left-back is because of the team’s general lack of height. They only had four players who were 6ft or over in the starting line-up during the weekend’s 2-0 defeat against Everton.

The report says that the Blues head coach would prefer to add a bigger central midfielder to his group.

Levi Colwill playing at left-back

Colwill, who’s 6ft 2in, is extremely comfortable in possession and has a great range of passing.

In our view, you can tell from a simple eye test he’s got the build of a centre-back with his physical strengths.

It doesn’t come as natural to him making overlapping runs from full-back, so we’d much rather any of Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella or Ian Maatsen start over him in the wide position. Instead, Colwill should be firmly in the mix to start in the heart of defence in his favoured role.

Speaking via The Athletic last week, Pochettino stated his confidence that Colwill has a massive future ahead of him at Stamford Bridge. We’ll be stunned if that’s not as a ball-playing centre-back.