Poch's risky move as 'reality' kicks in after another dismal display

THERE are signs that the blame game has started at Chelsea.

- Nizaar Kinsella

You did not have to read too closely between the lines of what Mauricio Pochettino said yesterday to decipher that he does not think their £1billion squad is good enough.

He made it clear there is a huge gap between where the club is expected to be in the table and the reality of its situation. He said the first four months of the season have been a "reality check" and that the reality for Chelsea is that they are a mid-table team.

After another disjointed display and a 2-0 defeat that leaves the Blues 12th in the Premier League, Pochettino said: "After four or five months and 16 Premier League games, it is [time to] assess. I am not saying we need to ask for more players or less players, but it is [time] to see if the perception matches the reality.

"If expectation is here (high) and reality is here (low), it is because we are missing something in the middle.