Chelsea has the potential to become a top-four team but needs some strategic decisions, says former England winger Chris Waddle.
After Chelsea won against Nottingham Forest, Waddle praised Chelsea for their possession skills and the talent of their footballers. But he maintained that the team is in desperate need of a centre-forward.
Waddle thinks Chelsea should look in for a new striker this summer, even though Nicolas Jackson has done a fantastic job this season, scoring 14 goals in the Premier League.
Waddle also pointed out that Thiago Silva, a first-rate player with years of experience, is irreplaceable. He welcomed back Reece James, another talented player, before saying that Chelsea is about two or three players away from being a top-four team.
At the same time, he was optimistic about the team’s way, saying they definitely move in the right direction.
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One of the critical issues that Waddle believes Chelsea needs to sort out quickly is the manager’s situation. He asked whether Mauricio Pochettino would remain or leave, pointing out that continuous change of management is not good for the team.
Waddle applauded Pochettino for the good job he has done with the resources he had and believes that the team will only improve under his leadership.
Waddle is convinced that with a few inclusions in the team, Chelsea can compete in the top four. Nevertheless, he still warned that the team has to be very cautious while recruiting a striker. He thinks summer is the crucial time for them as it requires them to retain more players rather than taking risks in the market.
He said that sometimes it is better not to buy anything than to make a lousy buy which hurts the team. He told the club to meet the primary objectives or wait, not to spend the funds unnecessarily.
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He goes on to conclude that Chelsea has the potential of becoming a top-four team, but they need to make strategic decisions that include recruiting a new striker, making a decision on the manager’s position, and making careful consideration in their recruitment strategy.
With these changes, Waddle is optimistic that Chelsea will contest for the top four next season.
