Chelsea is going through a transition in management. With Argentina boss Mauricio Pochettino losing his job after his debut season. Maresca will be taking up the new role at Stamford Bridge, with lot of players getting their deserving game time. Although Pochettino always had a good relationship with most of his players in the Chelsea locker, room somehow few of them fell short, most notably Armando Broja. BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella, reported that most players were saddened upon hearing Poch’s departure. However, Broja on the other hand, has claimed that the former coach did not ‘believe’ in him. The Albanian striker saw him leave Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window to Premier League club Fulham. Where he was willing to fill in the shoes of Tammy Abraham, he found himself in the boots of Mitrovic. Although given promising a role, he failed to deliver, with zero goal contributions.
Is Pochettino Losing Faith in Armando Broja, or Is It an Unbiased Chelsea Decision?
Chelsea has always struggled to find a proper striker since Diego Costa. Gone are those days when Drogba delivered in the big games, saving crucial moments. There was a ray of hope with stars like Tammy and Lukaku, but they turned out to be awfully bad transfer decisions. Chelsea are still looking for a perfect striker. Nicolas Jackson and Broja were in high hopes of proving themselves to Pochetinno as the missing piece for Chelsea. Although Jackson lived up to the manager’s expectations, the same cannot be said for the Albanian. Broja made only six starts under the 52-year-old’s jurisdiction, and even when Jackson was unavailable due to international duties, leaving Broja the sole striker for Chelsea, Pochetinno overlooked his presence. Another player who suffered similarly is Ian Maatsen, who was loaned out to BVB and is among the top targets of new Bayern manager Vincent Kompany.
Broja and his future at Stamford Bridge
Armando Broja has expressed his emotions regarding his time under Mauricio Pochetinno to The Athletic. He lamented, saying;
“I did feel like I could have had more trust and belief [from him].”
He was getting acclamated to the squad and environment of one of the biggest clubs in London. The lack of faith clearly affected his mentality, and finding himself conforming to a new situation at Fulham was reflected in his performance. This was more galvanizing, as Marco Silva, after significant praise from the Albanian, did not give him a single start at Craven Cottage. The number 9 had high hopes for his game time after recovering from an injury that fell short. However, it helped him get churned up for the upcoming season under Italian manager Enzo Maresca. With enough versatility and Maresca’s interest in young starlets, it is highly possible for Broja to fulfill his wishes at Chelsea. If he delivers right and with the potential he boasts, Broja can cement his position for the long run.
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