Pochettino: Youngsters have opportunity to show quality | News | Official Site

The Blues welcome the Merseysiders to Stamford Bridge with a growing injury list to contend with, including fresh fitness problems for Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi who are both doubts to be involved.

But Pochettino said this situation could see further opportunities given to players from the Academy, who earlier this week brought home the first silverware of the season with the Under-17s defeating Wolves 3-1 in the Premier League Cup final.

Pochettino has already blooded the likes of Leo Castledine, Cesare Casadei, Jimi Tauriainen and Alfie Gilchrist at various points during this season, and he hinted that there may be more opportunities for Academy players in the coming weeks, starting against Everton.

‘I think they are so close [to the first team],' said Pochettino. 'The way we are working as coaching staff, we are working so close with the Academy. And because of the circumstances also for us, we can invite young players to train with us, every week.

'That is a good opportunity for them to show their quality. We are realistic, but if we can give them the opportunity then they can be consistent. I think Chelsea have one of the best academies, not only in England but in the world, and I think it is our responsibility to care about these guys.

'A few of them will have the possibility to be in the squad on Monday. Also they are training for us, and for 16, 17, 18-year-olds they are training normally and being consistent with us. That is a very good experience and a very good evolution for them, to compete with senior players.'

Pochettino’s team face Everton having not lost a Premier League fixture since a home defeat to Wolves over two months ago. But during that time the Blues have also failed to keep a clean sheet, last doing so in the league in our 1-0 win over Fulham on January 13.

After seeing 15 goals scored across the last three games involving his team, the manager is well aware of the need to strike a balance between attack and defence, while still remaining focused on getting the win, first and foremost.

‘In the same way we concede, we score. In the past we struggled to score goals but now we are scoring. It's about getting the right balance between the two phases.

‘I think in the last seven or eight games, we didn't lose in the Premier League. The most important thing is to win games. Afterwards we want a clean sheet and not to concede, but at the moment it's about winning games, we want three points.

‘I don't want to concede chances or goals, but it doesn't work like this. If we are only trying to keep clean sheets, maybe we need to play with 10 defensive players. But Chelsea, in my opinion, is about going forward, creating chances and scoring goals.’