Mauricio Pochettino must be ‘RUTHLESS’ to trim down Chelsea’s bloated squad, says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who says unwanted players should train away from first-team if they can’t be sold
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Jamie Redknapp have issued a scathing review of Chelsea’s current situation after the Blues limped to a 4-1 defeat against Manchester United on Thursday evening.
Frank Lampard’s side failed to ignite a match-winning performance as the hosts capitalised on chances in front of goal, while Chelsea spurned golden opportunities and left themselves exposed to counter-attacks.
Former player Hasselbaink watched on at Old Trafford and has told the next incoming manager, believed to be Mauricio Pochettino, to get ruthless with the players he doesn’t feel are up to standard.
The Dutchman expressed concern over Chelsea’s supersize squad of underperforming talent and admitted the only option may be to send players to train alone or with academy teams as Redknapp additionally highlighted it won’t be easy to move players on who have signed lengthy contracts.
Redknapp stated first on Sky Sports: ‘The problem is you cant just say I don’t want you anymore, you have to go, these players they are on big contracts, this is a lot more difficult than people think.
Chelsea slumped to a crushing 4-1 defeat against Manchester United on Thursday evening
Chelsea have endured a torrid season and will finish the season in the bottom half of the table, with incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino (right) facing a huge rebuilding job
Hasselbaink added: ‘He [Poch] might have to be ruthless, if you’re not gone you might have to train at a different time with a different squad.
‘You have to keep the team you want to work with separate from ones who will be disappointed. He might have to be ruthless.
‘He will have to be,’ Redknapp added.
Pochettino is expected to take over at Stamford Bridge following the conclusion of the Premier League season that will be drawn closed at the weekend.
The Argentinian faces a difficult task of trimming the club’s bloated squad following a splurge of spending by new owners led by American businessman Todd Boehly.
Further spending is set to commence in the upcoming summer transfer window that will open on Wednesday, June
Premier League clubs will be able to bring in new reinforcements and sell-on players deemed surplus to requirements when the transfer market opens on Wednesday, June 14.
Chelsea have won just one Premier League match during Lampard’s interim spell of charge, dropping to 12th in the English top-flight standing and facing the possibility of a 13th-placed overall finish.
There were glimpses of improved attacking play during a lively first-half in Manchester on Thursday, but their inability to finish chances in front of goal cost the visitors.
Manchester United ran riot in the second-half at Old Trafford as they secured a 4-1 win over Chelsea
Hasselbaink further lamented his former side’s lacklustre efforts as Chelsea capitulated in the second-half, adding: ‘The second-half was totally different contrast tot h first, they came in really good positions, didn’t capitalise on chances and United shouldn’t be 2-0 up.
‘In the second-half you need to kick on, they never kicked on, they looked defeated, individual mistakes came to play, it went from bad to worse.
‘In how they have to play and also what you give on the pitch, I am disappointed in the second-half.
‘Chelsea were good between two boxes, very good, as soon as they came in the box, defensively not good, attacking, final pass or final thing to put ball in the net not good at all,’ he added.
