Chelsea 2023/24 pre-season - winners & losers

Mauricio Pochettino's first pre-season as Chelsea manager is in the books.

The Blues played five games, avoided defeat in all five and even got their hands on the Premier League Summer Series trophy, giving the new boss plenty of encouragement as he heads into the new campaign.

Here are the winners and losers from Chelsea's pre-season campaign.

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Winner - Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea fans have already fallen in love with Nicolas Jackson, who few expected to explode this summer.

A £32m signing from Villarreal in June, supporters were largely underwhelmed to see Jackson come through the door instead of someone like Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, but the Senegal international wasted little time in justifying Chelsea's faith and turning those sceptics into fans.

He grabbed an assist just three minutes into his first game and ended the summer with two goals and three assists to his name, and Jackson now appears set for a huge role in Pochettino's squad this season.

Loser - Raheem Sterling

A number of Chelsea's attacking stars stood out this summer, but one who failed to keep up is Raheem Sterling.

One of the club's highest earners, Sterling featured in each of Chelsea's five games but didn't really stand out in any of them. Fans want more from the England international, whose pedigree is not up for debate, but were clearly growing frustrated by the end of the tour.

Pochettino started Sterling against Borussia Dortmund, serving a hint that he may end up in the XI for the opening game of the season against Liverpool, but performances need to ramp up soon.

Winner - Malo Gusto

Sure, it's only pre-season, but Malo Gusto enjoyed a sensational summer with his new employers.

Gusto's move to Chelsea was met with some criticism about his defensive ability but the 20-year-old looked strong and confident as he dealt with every winger that came his way, giving Pochettino an incredibly welcome headache.

Reece James, Chelsea's starting right-back, is perhaps the team's best player but there have been calls from fans to shift the Englishman into midfield just to give Gusto some more minutes. That's how good he has been.

Loser - Marc Cucurella

On the other side of Pochettino's defence, Marc Cucurella continued his underwhelming form at Chelsea.

The arrival of a new manager was hoped to be the catalyst for improvement from the former Brighton defender but Cucurella, despite being given plenty of chances, failed to inspire confidence in a position in which Chelsea are overflowing with talent.

There are four left-backs on the books, meaning Cucurella simply cannot afford to struggle for much longer.

Winner - Levi Colwill

Welcome home, Levi Colwill.

The centre-back returned to Chelsea this summer, inked a new long-term contract and reminded fans exactly why there has been such a tussle over his future. Still only 20, Colwill looks like a leader of the next decade.

Colwill wanted assurances over his minutes from Pochettino and was clearly given that this summer, and everyone is set to benefit.

Loser - Lewis Hall

In his limited minutes, Lewis Hall was brilliant. The Cobham graduate has long been heralded as a potential star of the future, and it was hoped he would get the chance to strut his stuff in pre-season.

The 18-year-old, who is actually a central midfielder but appears destined for a future at left-back, played just 74 minutes across all five games, including going unused against Newcastle.

A loan move seems likely for Hall, who inked a new three-year contract this summer. Let's see where we're at this time next year.

Winner - Ian Maatsen

One of those in front of Hall in the pecking order was returning loanee Ian Maatsen, who excelled this summer despite not playing in his preferred position.

Used almost exclusively as a winger by Pochettino, the young Dutchman netted twice against Wrexham and played big minutes across the entire summer, having clearly convinced Pochettino of his worth to the team.

Just what the future actually holds for Maatsen is unclear, but his value has risen drastically this summer.

Loser - Trevoh Chalobah

Trevoh Chalobah did nothing wrong this summer but will still leave with real frustrations towards how things played out.

Afforded four appearances, Chalobah picked up an injury which ruled him out of the final game against Dortmund, watching on from the treatment room just days after Chelsea struck a deal to sign yet another new centre-back, Monaco's Axel Disasi, for £38m.

Robbed of the chance to react to that agreement on the pitch, Chalobah now appears to have taken one final tumble down the pecking order and a summer transfer cannot be ruled out.

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