Sources: Chelsea academy players fear first-team pathway being closed up

Mauricio Pochettino has been picking academy players but rarely using them

Last night in Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Leeds United, Mauricio Pochettino complained that he could not rest midfielders Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, with both players now risking severe burnout.

He also recently complained about tiredness in The Carabao Cup Final yet didn’t make use of all of his substitutions because they were academy youngsters without senior experience.

It’s not all been bad though. Pochettino has handed out debuts to many academy players this season and he has also given some solid minutes and a couple starts for Alfie Gilchrist.

But the fact he ignored a number of top young centre midfielders that he has had on his bench, in first team training, and also balling out in the academy week on week and then complains about not having any midfielders to be able to rest even one of Caicedo and Enzo, is a real problem.