While building a better future, Chelsea have failed to ensure the tools to succeed today

As Chelsea's goalless Premier League game at Bournemouth wound down, the two head coaches were pressed into making substitutions to try and boost their chances of finding a late winner. And when Mauricio Pochettino looked towards his bench, he didn't have much to choose from.

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Besides Cole Palmer, Ian Maatsen and Ben Chilwell, who came on for the visitors, the rest of the subs' bench offered few options. Sitting next to the two backup goalkeepers, there were four kids from the academy: Alex Matos, Ronnie Stutter, Alfie Gilchrist and Deivid Washington, players who aren't expected to come on and make a difference in Premier League games just yet.

Chelsea's significant spending over the past year, amounting to over $1 billion, has not translated into an improved squad. The club has undergone substantial player turnover, with 13 internationals departing and 11 younger players joining. Although it's a good omen for the future, having the most youthful squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23.5 years, is not what the club needs now. After the disaster that was last season, Chelsea requires a team of proven players to grind out results even when their overall play isn't of the highest standard.

The enormous squad led to Chelsea using no fewer than 37 different starters in the Premier League this year, more than any other club. Again, it all bodes well for the future, when all those youngsters are expected to fulfil their potential, but today? Pochettino needs winners. The team's performance has not matched expectations, and injuries have further complicated matters, with key players like Moises Caicedo, Noni Madueke, and Marc Cucurella sidelined, along with the long-term absentees Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana.

Pochettino, who has been in charge of Chelsea for only six games, is grappling with similar problems faced by his predecessors, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel. Injuries have disrupted the intensive pre-season training designed to support Pochettino's high-energy football system. And to top it off, the fans are getting restless already. The Argentine said he cannot afford the time to deal with the fans' boos.

"I have nothing to say. They can do whatever they want. We know what we need to do. We are strong in our belief. We have had bad luck. We had 12 injured today, plus Noni, Cucurella and Caicedo. Then we have four young guys and two keepers on the bench. Okay, am I going to cry? Am I going to complain? No, I need to accept this, the challenge, and keep being positive."

After three successive transfer windows of buying talented players for tomorrow, the Londoners are yet to ensure their present is anything resembling acceptable.