Mauricio Pochettino: Chelsea would have struggled in Europe because of injuries

Mauricio Pochettino said he doubts whether Chelsea could have handled a European campaign this season as he has grappled with an injury crisis.

The Argentinian could be without 11 players for Monday’s game against Everton, with Enzo Fernandez and Raheem Sterling the latest doubts for the meeting at Stamford Bridge.

It has been the club’s first campaign without European competition since 2016/17, and only their second since 1996/97, following a 12th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

But Pochettino said the team’s injury problems will need to be addressed if they are to take on more games next season.

“Now it’s about experience, to have all the information to try to help the club to take the best decisions to avoid things like happened this season.

Pochettino countered that the situation at Chelsea, whose owners have spent over £1billion on assembling a young and largely inexperienced squad, cannot be compared to previous examples.