ON THE WAYNE

Poch lacks leaders of the past

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TWENTY years ago Wayne Bridge was part of an influx of young talent at Chelsea.

But the key difference between back then and the Blues' recent overhaul is the squad Bridge joined contained a host of leaders to nurture the likes of Joe Cole and Damien Duff.

That 2004 team was packed with proven big-game performers such as Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Claude Makelele.

Yet when Bridge looks at the current crop, the only leader he sees among the mass of youth is 39-year-old Thiago Silva.

And the absence of more inspirational figures in the dressing room is the primary reason why Mauricio Pochettino is struggling to get a consistent tune out of his £1bn team.

The latest bump in the road came on Tuesday night when they lost the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final away at Championship Middlesbrough.