Mauricio Pochettino believes Chelsea’s record recruits Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are ‘gelling’ as a midfield pair.
Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign Fernandez from Benfica for £106.1m in January 2023, before setting another new record with the capture of Caicedo from Brighton, for a fee which could reach £115m with add-ons, six months later.
The duo have had mixed starts to their careers at Chelsea but Pochettino is confident the record arrivals are beginning to show signs of a strong partnership.
“Yes, it’s always about time to play together, know each other, to help each other then the rest of the team,” Pochettino said at a pre-match press conference ahead of facing Leicester in the FA Cup this weekend.
“Enzo is suspended for Sunday and is not playing, but we are happy with the evolution. The problem always in Chelsea is that expectation from day one is to go and win games. I think they are improving and we’re happy that is happening.”
The FA Cup offers Chelsea a chance to salvage their season with silverware and Pochettino reflected on an up-and-down campaign ahead of their quarter-final tie with the Foxes.
“It’s a strange year. Sometimes the expectation is high and sometimes low. Sometimes rain and sometimes sunny! For us to beat Leicester would be massive for us. Another opportunity to play at Wembley. Between you and me, some players did not sleep the day before the final [of the Carabao Cup] and that is only through experience, and living these situations, you can be better.
“The opportunity to be in Europe through the FA Cup would be massive. But we see Leicester are doing very well in the Championship and the coach is doing fantastic. It will be very tough game. Their manager is doing a fantastic job and now it will be tough because the final period you need to be solid.”
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