Mauricio Pochettino emphasizes the need for Christopher Nkunku to increase his involvement after making his first start for Chelsea, acknowledging the ongoing process of adaptation. Nkunku, who signed a six-year deal with Chelsea in the summer, had to patiently await his Premier League debut due to a serious knee injury suffered in pre-season.
In his first Premier League appearance, the 26-year-old marked the occasion with a stoppage-time header goal in a 2-1 defeat against Wolves. Pochettino entrusted Nkunku with his first start in the subsequent 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, where he played 70 minutes before being substituted for eventual match-winner Noni Madueke. Pochettino expressed satisfaction with Nkunku’s performance while acknowledging the necessity for more contributions as he adjusts to his new environment.
“He needs to adapt to the team and the Premier League, but he played more than 60 minutes, and it was an important step for him,” Pochettino commented. “There were a few combinations that were very good, but we need to repeat these actions. We need him to be more involved, but it’s normal; it’s his first 70 minutes. He needs to play games, and he will start to find himself and adapt.”
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Reflecting on his first start, Nkunku shared, “It meant a lot. I was very happy. For six months, I didn’t play, I didn’t start a game, so I feel good. The most important thing is that I have no issues after the games, so we continue to improve.”
The victory at Stamford Bridge relieved some pressure on Pochettino, lifting Chelsea back into the top half of the Premier League table. This win marked only the seventh time Chelsea secured three points in Pochettino’s 19 games in charge, placing them in 10th position, 12 points behind fourth-place Manchester City.