Pochettino prioritising continuity as Chelsea draw up transfer plans

Mauricio Pochettino feels continuity will be key for Chelsea ahead of his second season in charge, ruling out the prospect of another clear-out at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea clinched European qualification on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday, a 2-1 win over Bournemouth ensuring they beat Newcastle United and Manchester United to sixth place.

The Blues finished the campaign with five straight victories, the first time they have achieved that feat since doing so in March 2022 under Thomas Tuchel.

A positive end to Pochettino’s debut campaign has quietened talk of his job being under threat, and he wants to see evolution rather than revolution ahead of 2024-25.

“Does the club need new signings? Always, you can improve,” Pochettino said after Sunday’s victory.

“They are going to be much better next season because they will have one year of experience, a tough experience.

50.5 – Moises Caicedo’s goal for Chelsea was the furthest scored in a Premier League game since Wayne Rooney for Everton in November 2017 (57.7 yards v West Ham). Range. pic.twitter.com/3l4bRIaxGv

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 19, 2024

“That is the advantage of being solid and consistent and not making too many changes.

“Next season, if we keep 80 to 85 per cent of the squad, for sure it is a big step forward because it is about having continuity in the ideas and the knowledge between them. That is important for the club.

“That is a club decision. Like it was from the beginning, we [the coaching staff] are going to be there to help and if not, we are going to do our job.”

Chelsea only lost one of their final 15 matches of the Premier League season (nine wins, five draws), with that defeat coming by a 5-0 scoreline at Arsenal in April.

Only Manchester City, Arsenal (16 each) and Liverpool (12) won more Premier League games than Chelsea’s 10 between the turn of the year and the end of the campaign, with their total of 43 goals in that time ranking them fifth among all teams in the division.

Chelsea’s overall tally of 77 goals in 2023-24 was their third-most in a Premier League season, behind only their title-winning campaigns of 2009-10 (103) and 2016-17 (85).

Current status: watching this on repeat. pic.twitter.com/qbcrC0rIet

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 19, 2024