Talking Tactics: What has gone wrong for Pochettino at Chelsea?

Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea reign hit a new low yesterday with a shambolic 4-2 defeat to Wolves.

Pressure is building on the Blues boss with his side sitting 11th in the Premier League after two defeats on the bounce.

We consider what has gone wrong for Pochettino in the seven months since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

Money can't buy happiness

Pochettino has not been helped by Chelsea's scattergun approach to recruitment.

Owner Todd Boehly has invested heavily in new players, spending big money on some of the brightest young stars in Europe.

That has made it difficult for Pochettino — as well as Graham Potter and Frank Lampard before him — to build a cohesive team.

Chelsea's inexperience has been evident on numerous occasions, as has their lack of a proven striker.

Summer signing Christopher Nkunku only recently returned from a long-term injury, while Nicolas Jackson has yet to establish himself as a reliable goalscorer.

No team in the Premier League has missed more big chances than Chelsea (47) and they have scored just 38 goals despite an xG of 46.

That would be less of a concern if the Blues were keeping things tight at the back but they have conceded 39 times, eight of which have come in their last two games.

We expect Maur

Even with the mitigating factors, Pochettino has acknowledged that Chelsea are underperforming.

He said: "The players need to take responsibility like I take responsibility.

"At the moment we're not matching the history of the club. That's true. We need to accept it, be critical but we cannot give up.

"We'll work hard to change. If it's not working in this way, we need to move on and find a different solution.

"The perception is Chelsea should be in a different position. To understand the fans is really ­important.

"We want to apologise. We are disappointed like them but we need to fight together. We need to stay together.

"They are right to criticise and be angry but the players are young, the young team needs support.

"To be at this club you need to be strong."

Pochettino will need to turn things around quickly if he is to be given more time at Chelsea — a club not known for patience with struggling managers.

Last chance saloon

In previous eras, Pochettino may well have already been shown the door by the higher-ups.

But there was an acknowledgment that Chelsea were in a transitional period at the start of this season.

The expectation will have been for some tangible progress by now, however.

A short-lived improvement in results in the league and reaching the Carabao Cup final offered some brief encouragement — but Pochettino is beginning to frustrate even the most forgiving Chelsea followers.

His side still lacks tactical fluidity and has no real identifiable philosophy — unlike Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and even teams like Brighton and Aston Villa.

If Pochettino is to replicate his Spurs success with Chelsea, he will need to find a way of putting together a consistent run of form and establishing his best starting XI within a functional system.

As things stand, he is on thin ice.