According to Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, if his team brings on another forward this summer, they must possess Premier League experience to survive in his system. In the last week of the transfer market, the Blues have been linked to a shocking move for Darwin Nunez of Liverpool. Since joining the Reds in a transfer from Benfica that may have cost up to £85 million last summer, the 24-year-old has demonstrated a lot of potential. Also amidst rumours of a deal for Darwin Nunez, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has stated he will provide the number nine shirt to the next striker he recruits.
Chelsea willing to recuit a new no. 9 striker
Before his team’s match against Luton Town, Pochettino made it obvious to the media that he believes the next striker signed by him will wear the number nine. At Stamford Bridge, the renowned squad number has been used by numerous strikers, including Gianluca Vialli, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tony Cascarino, and Hernan Crespo. However, among the fanbase, it has developed somewhat of a reputation for being “cursed” in recent years. In simple terms, many people think that every striker who has donned the famous number nine at Chelsea will fail miserably for the team and fall short of expectations. In the last 10 years, players like Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, and Romelu Lukaku have all assumed the role. With Tammy Abraham being the only noticeable exception. However none of them have been able to achieve much success at the club.
Pochettino wants a striker to break the so called ‘curse’
The Argentine coach said: “For sure, if we bring in one striker more. now I‘m going to be sure that he uses the nine and try to change the feeling and the idea that this number is not cursed”. Pochettino doesn’t think there’s any curse and thus he says sarcastically : “We need to do some things to change the energy. I will ask the kit man to bring all the nine shirts and we do some energetic thing to break it .”
Christopher Nkunku, a successful goal scorer during his time at RB Leipzig who can play all around in the front three and as a ten, was the first to enter. Even while some people would have assumed he would choose the number nine, he doubled it and chose 18, which he already had at Leipzig. Soon after, Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal entered the game, but he ultimately chose a different jersey number, choosing 15. This indicates that, with just a few days left in the transfer window, the nine-position spot is still open. Thus the Blues are still looking for a striker to break the taboo regarding ‘cursed’ shirt.
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