Stamford Bridge’s history is rife with struggles for various No.9’s, a challenge that Mauricio Pochettino aims to tackle head-on. The upcoming Chelsea striker will be encouraged by Pochettino to embrace the No.9 shirt, despite the superstitions that surround it within the club.

Chelsea striker will be encouraged by Pochettino to embrace the No.9 shirt despite the curse

Recent acquisitions, including Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, have chosen to steer clear of the number often considered cursed by those associated with Stamford Bridge. The club has faced difficulties in finding a consistent top goalscorer ever since Diego Costa’s departure in 2017. Arguably, Tammy Abraham stands out as the only striker to have truly excelled with the No.9 jersey since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Nkunku and Jackson chose to stay away from number 9

Addressing the notion of the curse, Pochettino expressed genuine unawareness of the issue, stating, “Certainly, if we bring in another striker, I’ll make sure that he wears the number nine and works to change the perception that this number carries bad luck. We need to take steps to alter the energy. I might even have the kit man bring all the No.9 shirts and perform some sort of energetic ritual to break the curse,” he added with a playful tone.

“If we bring in another striker, I’ll make sure that he wears the number nine”

Pochettino also divulged that Chelsea is meticulously evaluating the “profile” of the forward they plan to acquire in the waning days of the transfer window. Notable targets include Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun, Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, and Lyon’s Bradley Barcola.

Moreover, Pochettino is eager to streamline the squad size, aiming for a maximum of 23 players, goalkeepers included. As Luton prepares to visit Stamford Bridge on Friday night, Pochettino revealed his satisfaction in retaining West Ham-targeted Conor Gallagher. However, he acknowledged that several of his players are likely to attract interest from other clubs.

The manager doesn’t want too many players for his team

He emphasized, “Other clubs are operating similarly to us and could be in discussions with some of our players. We need to remain vigilant about this. At this juncture, I haven’t heard anything [about Gallagher’s departure], and I haven’t been informed of any situations involving our players. Currently, I am not privy to any information. The club hasn’t informed me, and the players haven’t disclosed anything.”