Chelsea are set to recruit a specialist set-piece coach for next season in a move that will raise questions over the influence of Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Mail Sport has been told that the head coach has not been involved in the recruitment process after publicly expressing doubts last month about whether Chelsea needed specialist coaches.
Chelsea\’s attacking set-pieces in particular have been underwhelming this season, with only relegated threatened Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sheffield United having scored fewer than their six goals in the Premier League.
Pochettino’s side have not scored a single goal from an indirect free-kick and their tally of five goals from corners is eight fewer than that of Arsenal, whose free-kick coach Nicolas Jover has been widely credited with honing the routines that have contributed over 30 per cent of their goals this season.
Chelsea are one of just a handful of Premier League clubs who do not currently employ a specialist set-piece coach, which they are keen to address this summer.
Co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have invested heavily in strengthening Chelsea\’s football department since their takeover two years ago, with a whole host of new appointments being made including sporting directors, recruitment specialists and coach educators.
Pochettino brought his own tight-knit coaching staff with him when he was appointed last summer however, and appeared to question the value of specialist coaches in a press conference last month.
‘We have specialists,’ Pochettino said. \’We are a coaching staff in charge of everything.’