Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has expressed his interest in assessing Ian Maatsen’s abilities during the upcoming pre-season tour. He believes that introducing more competition in the position will encourage better performance levels from the players. In an interview with the Evening Standard, he emphasized his eagerness to evaluate Maatsen’s potential.
Reports suggest that Burnley expressed interest in securing a permanent deal for Ian Maatsen. Which was not immediately dismissed by Chelsea. The rumored asking price for the player is around £20 million. But no action has been on this offer thus far.
Instead, Maatsen has joined the Chelsea squad that has embarked on a tour of the United States. Where they will face several Premier League teams, as well as Wrexham and Borussia Dortmund.
Pochettino and his desires
Mauricio Pochettino is enthusiastic about Ian Maatsen’s potential, but acknowledges that he will face competition for playing time. Both Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella have traveled with the team, aiming to prove themselves ahead of the upcoming season.
In addition, Lewis Hall, initially listed as a midfielder on the club website, has been mentioned by Pochettino as another left-back option alongside Maatsen.
Pochettino expressed his desire to observe the performances of Lewis Hall, Ian Maatsen, Marc Cucurella, and Ben Chilwell during the pre-season. He believes that increased competition will lead to improved performances from the players.
Considering the current situation, it may be challenging for Chelsea to retain all four left-back options. However, due to the team’s limited midfield depth at the moment, Hall may have the opportunity to showcase his skills in the position he has played throughout his academy career.
Amongst the first-team players who endured a challenging campaign in the previous season, Marc Cucurella might have been the most disappointed with his own performances. Despite being a highly-rated player, Cucurella struggled to meet expectations and showcase his true potential on the field.
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