Mauricio Pochettino ‘still has no idea’ what his strongest XI is – but he must be given time to turn things around at Chelsea, says Dion Dublin

Dion Dublin believes Mauricio Pochettino still doesn’t know who his strongest starting XI is at Chelsea.

The Argentine has endured a difficult first full season at the club since being appointed manager of Stamford Bridge last year.

Chelsea are in the bottom half of the Premier League table with 10 games remaining and their FA Cup tie with Leicester is extremely important as it remains the only trophy they can win this season.

Questions have been raised over whether Pochettino is the right man for the job going forward.

But Dublin, ahead of kick-off against Leicester, insist they must be given time to turn things around.

He said during the BBC’s pre-match coverage: “I think he’s doing well at the moment.

“They need to give him time because the quality is potentially there, but he needs to figure out what he can improve on, what he needs to go out and figure out who his best XI is. I don’t think he has the no idea because he has so many players.

Chelsea’s great team has spent more than £1 billion since Todd Boehly took over as owner of the club in 2022.

Host Gary Lineker joked that Chelsea’s squad list is ‘longer’ thanks to their program than any other team in the Premier League.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Chelsea need a manager who can handle the direction they are heading in with a young squad.

He added: “It was always going to be an up and down season. They played very well against bigger teams like Liverpool, Man City, but when they have to make the match, they struggled here and there.

“Yes, the punters want trophies but it’s another club, it takes time and you have to be patient. You have to understand a lot of young players. They have a lot of young players who have to develop and with whom they have to take time. You see they are talented but it will take time.

Dublin, meanwhile, said the FA Cup remained a “real chance to win a title” for the Blues – which would end a disappointing season on a high note.

He said: It’s the last chance (for Chelsea to win a trophy), the players will think so too. This is a real silverware chance.

“They’ve had a bad season, their standards are higher than that. Chelsea expect a trophy every season, that’s what the fans demand. It’s about putting in a professional performance in the Premier League against a team that they should beat.