The presence of our new head coach in the chair at Stamford Bridge for the pre-match press conference ahead of our opening Premier League fixture of 2023/24 is one of many things which are new at Chelsea for this season.

In addition to the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, his coaching staff and several players over the summer, there have also been changes for those who have been here for some time, most notably the appointment of Academy graduate Reece James as the new Chelsea captain, following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta.

Ahead of James’ first match as captain, in front of the Blues fans at the Bridge who have supported him throughout his journey from our Academy to wearing the armband, Pochettino explained why the 23-year-old was the clear choice to take up that role in his squad.

‘I think he’s not only a player that can be a leader, because he’s a leader with his character, his qualities,’ said the Argentinian. ‘He’s a person also that’s going to be the future of the club. He came through the Academy. I think for us, for me and for the club, he’s a perfect player, person, to be a captain.’

Pochettino then discussed his own feelings after returning to England and the Premier League to take up the role of Chelsea head coach, leaving no doubt as to how pleased he is to be back on these shores after his time away since managing Tottenham and Southampton.

‘I feel really good. It’s so exciting to come back to the Premier League. We are really busy because it is a period when we are so busy with the pre-season and everything, but I am so happy, so excited and I can’t wait to be here on Sunday to start the competition.

‘I miss the Premier League because of the organisation and it’s really competitive, every week it’s so competitive. Even when you play in the cups, it’s really competitive, even against League One, Two or Championship teams. The fans live the game. When you go away from this environment, you really feel a bit lost because football here is amazing. How people, you the media, translate to the fans, it’s the perfect combination.’

He also explained he will be on familiar ground at the Bridge, as the decision to swap the home and away benches means he will be in the same seat he occupied on his visits here as an opposition boss.

‘I am going to be in the same dugout as when I was here with Southampton and Tottenham, because we are moving to the right. It’s not going to be as strange a situation to be in the home dugout this time, it is going to feel like home, because I am going to be where I was when we played here before. We are moving because I think we will have better space and it is better to be on the right. That was the decision we took with the club on the day that we signed here, and the club agreed with me. It’s big news, breaking news, we are moving to the right!

‘I don’t know if it is a lucky dugout but I think it is the best, because it is bigger, you are in the middle and at home you control everything. That for me is important. It was always a thing I was thinking, when I came here with Southampton I thought it was strange they gave me the best position, it was like we were at home. These are small details that can make the difference and that’s so important for me.’

Although the Premier League gets under way this weekend, with Chelsea’s campaign beginning against Liverpool at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon, the transfer window remains open until the end of this month.

Pochettino was asked for an update on the club’s transfer activity and, while he stressed the importance of not saying too much before things are finalised, he did confirm Chelsea are continuing to pursue further targets in the market, with one area of his team in particular earmarked for strengthening over the next few weeks.

‘I never talk about players that don’t belong to us, I am so respectful,’ he added. ‘What I can tell you is that we are working really hard to try to add new players to the squad with quality, but at the moment I don’t want to talk about players that do not belong to us.

‘I think that it is important to be very respectful with other clubs and the players, but we are working really hard to try to add more quality and reinforce the team, the squad. We are working hard and I am so happy with the way we are doing things with Paul [Winstanley], Laurence [Stewart] and the owners. The relationship is really good and really close and so far so good. We are so happy to work in this way.

‘It’s obvious where we have priorities because when you look at the squad and when you compare to last season too many midfielders have left the squad. We have different options and we are working hard to try, to see what we can do. We are working very hard but also being very respectful with all the names that are there and of course with the clubs that the players belong to. For us it’s so important to be very respectful and it’s the way I love to work and it’s the way we need to work together here at the club.’