It can be absolutely fantastic for a manager to have a big and talented squad to choose from, but at the same time, it can also be a real headache.
But it’s the kind of headache that would be described as a good kind, if there is such a thing. Because any manager would rather have too many choices making it hard to pick, rather than not enough choices and having to go with whatever they have left.
Sources: Chelsea monitoring Juventus midfielder, as well as Southampton goalkeeper!
For Graham Potter at Chelsea right now, he is attempting a tough juggling act of making sure he selects a team that will get results, whilst also trying to keep the massive squad content and give minutes to players when they deserve it. But his job, as he re-emphasises in the embargoed section of yesterday’s pre-match Brentford press conference, is to pick the right team to win matches.
As reported by Football London, Potter says: “You can imagine my focus is on Chelsea. I understand that all the players have ambition and want to play for different reasons; for their families, careers or World Cups financially. That’s all fine but it’s my job to select the right team for whatever game. Not saying I am right all the time, I am not but somebody has got to make the call. With Christian [Pulisic] I would say he has been fantastic around the place, been really good with team-mates, contributed against Wolves. He is pushing for a place, pushing for a start. Things change quickly in football and he needs to be ready.”
With a goal and assist in his last 90 mins played, it’s entirely reasonable to ask of Potter, “what exactly does Pulisic have to do to win more time?!” He’s shown he’s “ready” for goodness sake, and yet he remained an unused sub in two consecutive matches! Why?
To hang this all on the WC is frankly a bit insulting. Sure internationals want to be ready in Nov, but every player worth their salt just wants to PLAY come match day! For new manager, I would think Potter would be more concerned with showing every member of the squad that performance will be rewarded. In Pulisic’s case it clearly hasn’t been. At some point, Potter either gives him the playing time his recent productivity has earned him or any explanation (in private or in the press) won’t mean much to Christian (or his fans).