Brad Friedel says Pochettino appointment is ‘best decision of Todd Boehly’s business career’ and compares Haaland to former PL striker

In the second part of an exclusive Ladbrokes interview, former Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel discusses Chelsea’s appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, Erling Haaland and has a surprising prediction for the Premier League title winners.

Click on the link for part one in which the American chatted about the goalkeeping situation at Arsenal and Emi Martinez.

Appointing Poch is best decision of Todd Boehly’s business career

Todd Boehly came in and thought that because he’d done very well in the US and he knew sport, that things were going to be the same with Chelsea. But football is a completely different animal, and I think he found that out very quickly. He inherited a big squad, too many stars in the changing room, too many players on big wages. I don’t like using the word ‘happy’, but it’s totally impossible to keep a squad like that hungry, on the edge of their seats, trying to fight for their places. It just wasn’t going to work.

Fast forward to today, though, and I think that this is why a lot of the wealthiest people in the world are where they are –  because they’re smart. I think he’s made one of the smartest decisions of his sporting career, and maybe his business career, by hiring Mauricio [Pochettino]. That’s my opinion, of course, but I think that Mauricio will do a very good job of trimming down the squad. I think he’ll do a very good job of bringing in the players that he wants. And once he has that, you’ll see success back at Chelsea.

Mauricio is very passionate, but compassionate at the same time. Players love playing for him…I really think this is a match made in heaven. Right club, right manager, right time.

Chelsea v Liverpool reaction

I think a draw was probably a fair result at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It was a great spectacle for the Premier League – it was not a boring draw by any stretch of the imagination. Both teams had goals disallowed, both teams had great chances, both goalkeepers made great saves. There were clearances, blocks, really good passages of play. Neither team really got a grip on the game, as far as being in the ascendency for long periods.

It was a really fun game to watch, and I know how Mauricio wants his teams to play. Chelsea are going to be exciting to watch this season, and we all know how Jurgen Klopp wants his teams to play, so they’re going to be exciting as well. For a first game of the season, I thought it was a tremendous spectacle for the Premier League.

Haaland has shades of Shearer and Giroud

Erling Haaland is just incredible, as we know. But what’s interesting about him, when you try and compare him to other players from years gone by… he’s got that size and stature of an [Olivier] Giroud, but he plays a little bit more like Alan Shearer. I know Shearer had some knee problems later on in his career, but he would play off the shoulder of the last defender. His movement in the box was outstanding, he was good in the air, he would use his body brilliantly and make things so difficult for defenders. The way that Haaland gets himself into positions to score goals, is very much like Shearer. You know, you take your eye off him for a second and the ball comes in the box, and he’s there. The two are very similar in that department, at least.

Of course, Alan has that incredible Premier League goalscoring record to his name, and with Harry Kane moving to Germany, it looks like it might remain his for a little while longer. Listen, these records are out there to be broken, but they’re also very difficult to break. There are a couple of longstanding records which are going to be very difficult to break. With the amount of fixtures that occur now, we never know what will happen.

With Kane out of the division now, if you’re looking at Haaland and whether he might go on to break Alan’s record…he’s got a long way to go. Does he have the quality to do it and is he at the right team? Yes, but a lot of things need to happen, and in his favour. I think at one stage we all looked at Tiger Woods and expected him to go on and break every major record out there in golf, but things happen – you never know what’s around the corner. Is Pep Guardiola going to stay at Man City his whole life? If he retires, or leaves, does Haaland stick around? Or does he go to Real Madrid and move out of the Premier League? We just don’t know.

Liverpool will win the title…Spurs, Man United and Newcastle all to miss out on top four

Man City are in the title race, of course. Arsenal will be there, too. Aside from those two, I think Liverpool will believe they’re genuine contenders, and then I’d put Chelsea right up there, too. So it’s probably a four-horse race we’re looking at. I’m sure Man United are also going to be stronger, but we’ll have to wait and see how the season progresses before I throw them in as title contenders.

Although I don’t think either of these will be right up there at the end of the season, I really feel like Newcastle and Aston Villa are going to cause a few upsets this year. They’ll be up there, near that part of the table, I really think that. Unai Emery is an outstanding manager and Villa have assembled a really strong squad.

Man City are favourites to win the title. But I’m going to say Liverpool win it. I think they’re going to get some things together and make a run for it.

It’s so hard to come off the back of winning a treble and go out challenging on all fronts without some mental fatigue creeping in there. Even though Pep [Guardiola] is just incredible, I’m going to say Liverpool win it, then they’ll be followed by Man City in second and Chelsea in third. As for fourth place, you’ve got a few teams who will fancy themselves to sneak in there. You’re looking at the likes of Man United and Newcastle, but I’ll put Arsenal in there in fourth place, and Man United just missing out.