Mauricio Pochettino has warned Chelsea need to make “tough” decision to streamline their “massive” and “unbalanced” squad.
Chelsea took 29 players on their pre-season tour of the United States and Pochettino wants to trim his squad ahead of the new season.
Ian Maatsen, Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah could all be sold despite impressing in the 1-1 friendly draw with Newcastle in Atlanta.
Chelsea have already allowed 12 first-team players to leave this summer but, speaking after the Newcastle game, Pochettino said: “We are 29 players here and the squad is massive. It is about creating a squad with good balance and people who can play and can compete for their place.
“That is a big job and challenge for us in the transfer window to build a good relationship and good balance. If players are not happy because they believe they are not going to play, we are going to find a solution with the club and fix the situation.
“We cannot have a massive squad, players not involved and then it’s going to create a mess. Maybe less is more and more is less. That is why I need to make clear we don’t need a big squad.
“We need 22, 23, 24 players with some younger and that’s it. I am so sorry because maybe the decision will be tough but we need to build a good and balanced team who want to compete for things.”
Pochettino said whichever players remain must accept his decisions about who starts, adding: “Chelsea pay me to choose 11 players, it is better they to talk from now [to leave].
“If I don’t play, I don’t want to be here - perfect. If I am here, I am committed, I am going to accept that you are the coach and are going to choose the players every single game. It is not a threat.
“We need to stop thinking ‘I come here to play’. No, ‘I come here to help the club to achieve what we want and then I need to convince the coaching staff that I deserve to play’.”
Maatsen has become a popular figure with supporters after scoring twice in Chelsea’s opening pre-season friendly and assisted a goal for Nicolas Jackson against Newcastle.
Pochettino was positive about Maatsen and said: “So far he is in my plans”.
But his defender has been played out of position on the wing, which is a cause for concern longer term.
Pochettino added: “In that position, we have four and sometimes the squad is unbalanced.
“We need to build a balanced squad to have the possibility to compete for a [high] position [in the table] but not have players who are going to be the third or fourth option for one place.”
Noni Madueke missed the Newcastle game due to a tight hamstring but Reece James played for the first time in over three months in display that shows the progress he has made this summer.
Pochettino said: “I’m pleased with the attitude again and the performance - many, many positive things, things to improve. In general, I am so pleased.”
