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Although the Blues dominated the contest against the 10-man Hammers, enjoying 76% possession and racking up 17 shots on goal, they were on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat.
Just four of Chelsea’s efforts were on target, one of which was Enzo Fernandez’s saved spot-kick, and they lacked cutting edge in the absence of summer signing Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman has been sidelined until the end of the year while Armando Broja is still recovering from injury, leaving the goalscoring burden resting on the shoulders of Nicolas Jackson.
In a further sign of Chelsea’s limited options, teenager Mason Burstow was thrown on in the 83rd minute as the west Londoners sought an equaliser.
Pochettino previously said he was reluctant to sign a player who could block the development of either Broja or Burstow, but he has now acknowledged the need to bring in more firepower this month.
‘It is a difficult situation because we had two strikers in Nkunku and Broja but they are injured,’ Pochettino told talkSPORT after the defeat to West Ham.
‘It is not easy in this moment to find the right profile. We are in the process, working to see if we can add some players in this area.
‘But it is a job that is not easy for the club. For sure, they are working really hard to add some players.
‘If it is not possible, we need to wait until Nkunku and Broja will be ready and we have the help of Mason.
‘I don’t think the problem is that we need another striker. The chances that we created, we need to be more clinical.
‘It is not only the strikers that need to be clinical in front of goal.’
Chelsea were dealt a further blow to their attacking options when goalscorer Carney Chukwuemeka was forced off at the London Stadium with a knee injury and he was later seen leaving on crutches.
‘With Carney we need to assess him,’ said Pochettino afterwards. ‘We’ll see tomorrow the assessment from the doctors and hope it is not a big issue, but we need to wait.’
MORE : Mauricio Pochettino backs Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk to come good after West Ham struggles
MORE : Mauricio Pochettino rates Moises Caicedo’s Chelsea debut after he gives away penalty in defeat to West Ham
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