Chelsea tactics, recruitment, finishing and discipline all under the microscope with clouds darkening over Stamford Bridge under Mauricio Pochettino

• The Blues had hoped for a fresh start under Pochettino but that is yet to arrive
• They are 14th in the league table after winning just once in their first six games
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here

‘I never thought it was going to be easy but seriously it’s way more difficult than expected.’

Those were the words of Thiago Silva’s wife Isabelle on social media following another demoralising Chelsea setback against Aston Villa on Sunday.

They could easily have come from club’s owners and the hierarchy overseeing this Chelsea project, having had little to show for their staggering £1bn-plus investment so far.

From the posh seats up in the stands, around the Stamford Bridge pitch and down the tunnel co-owner Behdad Eghbali – increasingly prominent across Chelsea while fellow co-owner Todd Boehly has taken a step back – plus sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart strode following the Villa loss, Eghbali attempting to lift spirits in his interactions with Mauricio Pochettino’s players in the dressing room area.

The powers that be at Chelsea making that journey in the wake of a poor result has become a regular sight.

Things have not gone to plan so far under new manager Mauricio Pochettino despite high hopes following his appointment

The Blues are 14th in the Premier League table and have just one win from their first six games

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And after Boehly made the same one last season following the defeat to Brighton in April and told the squad their season had been ’embarrassing’ while singling out one of the senior stars it is one that attracts added attention.

The continuation of Chelsea’s woes under their new ownership, though, means increasing questions are being asked of them and their recruitment policy.

Already, just six league games into the new season, Pochettino found himself having to highlight that, amid their disappointment, ‘they need to support the plan’ in what sounded like a reminder, if needed, that this will not be a quick fix.

The plan is one based on the long-term with young, high-potential players on lengthy contracts but it will need time and patience.

But that is at odds with a club where you do not tend to get much of that as former manager Graham Potter will testify.

Despite the attempts to insist that things are different at Chelsea under Boehly/Clearlake Capital regime Potter lasted less than seven months, a ruthless dismissal that would not looked out of place during the Roman Abramovich era.

This season so far is looking like being another test of the claimed shift and sense of early-season ‘calm’ and refusal to panic about underwhelming results, especially with the fixtures to come after the next international break through to the start of December – a seven-match run of games against Arsenal, Brentford, Tottenham, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brighton and Manchester United.

Despite a favourable start, results have not improved under Pochettino. Injuries have not helped and some tactical and selection choices such as those involving the likes of Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher have caused debate.

Pochettino has said the project will take a long period of time and has had to reinstate that is the case

His use of players, however, has been questionable, with Levi Colwill (right) playing left-back

Chelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali (left) and Todd Boehly have overseen huge change at the club

The use of centre-back Colwill as a left-back, left-back Chilwell and midfielder Fernandez in more advanced positions and Gallagher as third captain been a candidate for a possible departure have all been talking points.

Though it has not been for the want of trying on Pochettino’s part.

His endearing man-management qualities, willingness to engage with his players and often go out of his way to speak to them and pass on information quickly became apparent and welcomed by his squad.

He is well-liked and backed by his players. They appreciate being given clear direction by the Argentinian and an understanding of what they should expect from each other.

His door is always open to his players and detailed tactical conversations with some of his players about their next opponents or specific roles have taken place.

Quite early it also became clear he did not want any cliques but his players being together as much as possible rather than in smaller groups as he tried to foster unity.

The Argentine has worked on unity and the belief within the Chelsea squad is that improvement will take time

Pochettino has held detailed tactical conversations with some players about opponents or specific roles

The Chelsea squad is now described as a tight-knit one and that accepts it is just a matter of things needing to click on the pitch which requires that all-important time.

As for Pochettino’s efforts to improve the team, ‘I know for a fact they are definitely working hard,’ one source insisted.

Lots is being done on shape and formation with a big focus on fitness, intensity and high standards.

Pochettino’s high expectations mean the same intensity that is needed for a match is required in his sessions on the practice pitches of Chelsea’s Cobham HQ, where Eghbali was a visitor last week delaying Pochettino’s press conference.

A sense that there are repercussions for slacking off has also been created.

On their recovery days fitness work is still required and some elements of training have been likened to being beasted in an army camp such are the high demands and gruelling nature of certain drills.

Pochettino is right to say Chelsea should have two or three more wins as the stats show he has been coaching far better performances than results suggest.

They have missed more big chances than any of their Premier League rivals and should have the sixth highest expected goals total.

But rather than 11.6 goals they have five – the joint third lowest total in the league – and have the second lowest shot conversion rate in the division.

Chelsea have scored the third fewest goals in the league this season with just five netted so far

But their failure to record a victory against Villa has shone further spotlight on the resources Pochettino has been handed to do the job.

The dismissal of Malo Gusto and fifth booking of the season for Nicolas Jackson prompted Pochettino’s admission that his squad need to grow up, such is the youthful and inexperienced makeup of his pool of players.

Gusto’s foul on Lucas Digne was at a time of the match when the game was in the balance with the score 0-0 and in an area of the pitch where such a full-blooded challenge was perhaps not essential.

None of Jackson’s bookings have been for a foul and Sunday’s, for standing in the way of a free-kick, came just days after Pochettino spoke to Jackson about the dangers of picking up ‘cheap’ bookings.

More squandered chances, meanwhile, revived questions about how Chelsea have managed to spend so much money and leave themselves without a reliable scorer.

Ever the diplomat, Pochettino insisted there were ‘no regrets’ about that last week.

Pochettino admitted following the defeat to Aston Villa – and Malo Gusto’s red card – that his squad need to grow up

When Chelsea’s owners took over last summer their assessment of the books and some of the previous transfer decisions made was less than complimentary and they sought to tidy that up, in part with signings that made more financial sense.

The counter argument is Abramovich ran Chelsea and made signings with a view to them winning trophies which, within reason, should be the bottom line for a football club. In that sense he did that successfully.

Is that still the priority? It is a question being posed about this current version of Chelsea, which has been stripped of much of its trophy-winning know-how on and off the pitch.

On the new owners’ arrival last summer manager Thomas Tuchel was in place to influence their recruitment.

But following his dismissal and the installing of a new recruitment setup headed up by Winstanley, Stewart and co-director of talent and recruitment Joe Shields – one that some close to the club believe has too many people in the process and involvement from above – the focus has shifted.

Todd Boehly has spent over £1billion since taking over last summer but is yet to see reward for his investment

Pochettino did not decide the transfer fees of the players that have arrived, but it is up to him to earn results

Data is playing a bigger part and how the players work as financial assets is now a consideration, hence investing so heavily in younger talent.

That all makes perfect business sense though there is potential for that being reflected more on a spreadsheet than football pitch.

It also not as easy to take transfer risks at a club the size of Chelsea at is at others.

Chelsea have gambled in some places and overpaid in many others. Jackson was joining Bournemouth in January until a failed medical.

He joined Chelsea for around £32m after the only burst of consistent scoring in his career at the end of last season for Villarreal.

Nice were at one stage favourites to sign Mykhailo Mudryk for a fraction of the £88.5m fee Chelsea ended up paying after their interest, following Arsenal’s, drove up the price.

Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are just some who also came with especially hefty price tags.

World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez is one of several players who arrived with a hefty price tag

Meanwhile, the youth focus of Chelsea’s buying has meant some players have been overlooked due to their age such as now Tottenham star James Maddison and left Pochettino’s squad short on nous and experience.

Pochettino appealed for more during the summer but not one player over the age of 25 was signed.

It has left the burden on the shoulders of Raheem Sterling, Chilwell and centre-back Silva, at a time when the contribution and role of the veteran centre-back, whose mistake led to Villa’s winner, is coming under growing scrutiny.

In the assessment of Chelsea’s current plight, he should not be the only one.

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