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Sam Allardyce Tells Mauricio Pochettino How to Make Chelsea Better

Originally posted on FanNation Futbol
By Robert Summerscales | Last updated 2/28/24

Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce believes that there is a simple solution to improve Chelsea's poor results.

Mauricio Pochettino's Blues currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, having won just 10 of their first 25 games.

Despite Chelsea reaching the EFL Cup final, many fans want Pochettino to be sacked.

Allardyce joked during an interview with talkSPORT this week that he would happily "fly back from Dubai tomorrow" to replace Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

The 69-year-old is understood to have zero chance of landing the Chelsea job, either now or in the future.

However, Allardyce reckons that he knows what Pochettino, or his replacement, needs to do in order to improve Chelsea's fortunes.

"Sort the defense out," he told talkSPORT. "It's the worst defending I've seen in the Premier League for a long, long time."

He added: "People see that as a negative punt. There's a big thing on Monday Night Football about Manchester United and how many shots they've conceded and then looking at the top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. They have the best defensive records.

"It's a simple mathematical equation. You win the league if you have the best defense, not the best attack.

"The best attack gives you the opportunity to get the points in the end but the defensive side of it wins you the league. The defending has been ignored for many years now and I've never seen such bad defending for a long time."

Chelsea have only kept five EPL clean sheets this season and have conceded 41 goals - more than Everton, Wolves, Man United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool.

Allardyce has been out of management since taking charge of Leeds United for four games at the end of the 2022/23 season.

He has also previously managed Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

This article first appeared on FanNation Futbol and was syndicated with permission.

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