Chelsea: Some younger players 'struggling with the pressure', says manager Mauricio Pochettino
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More than 10 new players arrived at Chelsea last summer, along with manager Mauricio Pochettino
Some of Chelsea's younger players are "struggling a little bit to deal with the pressure" of playing for the club, says manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine took charge last summer, when the Blues leaned towards young talent with their new signings.
Leading goalscorer Cole Palmer, 21, has been a clear standout since his move from Manchester City.
Pochettino said: "Not all the players have the same process to settle in at the club [as Palmer] or to perform."
Palmer scored his 11th Premier League goal of the season during Monday's 3-2 win over Newcastle which left Chelsea 11th in the table having finished 12th last term.
The Blues also lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool, but remain in the FA Cup and host Championship leaders Leicester in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
Pochettino added: "One thing we cannot change is to give time to the players to get experience and be more mature.
"Yes, we are in a process that the main group, the main young players, they struggle a little bit to deal with the pressure to play for Chelsea.
"That is the thing we are, of course, aware of and we are focusing on trying to help them in all the areas.
"When you have this young squad, it's not only to help them in training, in the maybe two hours of that. We have spent a lot of time talking with the people that work around these guys, who are important too."
'I believe Jackson will be very successful here'
The Football News Show: Is Jackson Chelsea's new version of Drogba?
Nicolas Jackson was another of Chelsea's summer signings and the Senegal striker, 22, opened the scoring against Newcastle with his 12th goal in all competitions.
Didier Drogba managed 16 in his first season at Stamford Bridge (2004-05) but left as a Chelsea legend, having scored a total of 164 in two spells at the club, ending in 2015.
"You all are now seeing how [Jackson] is improving," said Pochettino. "The most difficult thing was to support him when it was tough. I told you I really believe in him.
"I believe he is going to be very successful here. He has the quality and the capacity. Now he is doing much better but still needs to improve a lot.
"The numbers are similar to Drogba in his first season. That maybe gives the fans more belief in him and [they will] be a little more patient with him, but always it depends on the circumstances.
"Now I hope people can start to understand he has the condition to be very good."
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