Pochettino Promises 4-5 Youngsters Playing Time In Tomorrow’s Carabao Cup Encounter

Ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup second-round tie against AFC Wimbledon tomorrow, the club’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed that some academy players will feature in the matchday squad.

Coming from a 3-0 win over Luton Town last weekend, the Blues will begin their Carabao Cup journey earlier than usual, after failing to get a qualification ticket to European competitions last season.

With a Premier League fixture coming less than 72 hours after they take on AFC Wimbledon tomorrow, Pochettino who had his pre-match media conference today said he’s going to rest some of his regular starters and avoid unnecessary risks.

His words: “It’s true the circumstances aren’t the best at the moment because we have many injuries and we need to deal after with Saturday’s game against Nottingham Forest.

“We are going to try to put the best team out to be sure we are going to perform in the way we want, but we have some players we need to avoid the risk and give some rest.”

Speaking on the opportunity he’ll present to the club’s academy players, the Argentine added: “We are going to use four or five young guys from the Academy, 16- or 17-year-olds.

“It’s not because it’s our philosophy at the moment, I need to clarify that. I can not be a populist or a hypocrite. It’s because we need young guys to bring to the first team because we have some players who cannot play tomorrow.

“In time it will be good to create the possibility for the young guys. Chelsea always produces good talented young kids. Part of the project is to produce players for the first team because the Academy and all the coaches there are working so hard.

“At a club like Chelsea, it’s important to have players from the Academy that can translate the identity of the club.”

He however confirmed that latest signing Djordje Petrovic, wouldn’t be involved in the game due to his permit, signalling that Robert Sanchez will be in between the sticks once again.

“Sanchez is going to play tomorrow. We still don’t have the confirmation Djordje can play because we need the permit. That is why we prepare for the game with Robert. We don’t know if he will be on the bench because the permit still hasn’t arrived.

“Anyhow, Djordje needs more time to train and understand the way we want to play, the concept, working with Toni [Jimenez] and Hilario, but we don’t want to rush,” Mauricio Pochettino said.