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 he was appointed as the manager at Stamford Bridge last year.

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

But Dublin, ahead of kick-off against Leicester, insists he needs to be given time to turn it around.

Dion Dublin insists Mauricio Pochettino should be given more time at Chelsea, but feels the Argentine still doesn’t know who his strongest starting XI at Stamford Bridge is

Chelsea have one of the largest squads in the Premier League after their heavy spending

Chelsea have spent more than £1bn since Todd Boehly’s arrival – to little success so far

He said on the BBC’s pre-match coverage: ‘I think he’s okay at the moment.

‘They have to give him the time as the quality is potentially there but he’s got to figure out what he can make better, what he needs to get out the door and figure out who is his best XI. I don’t think he has a clue as he’s got so many players.’

Chelsea’s large squad comes down to them spending over £1bn since Todd Boehly began his ownership of the club in 2022. 

Host Gary Lineker joked that Chelsea’s squad list goes a ‘foot longer’ on the back of their programme than any other Premier League team.

Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said that Chelsea need a manager who can handle the direction they’re going in with a young team.

He added: ‘It was always going to be a season about ups and downs. They’ve been playing really well against the bigger teams like Liverpool, Man City but when they have to make the game itself they have struggled here and there. 

‘Yes, the punters they want trophies but it’s a different club it’s taking time and you have to be patient. You have to understand a lot of the young players. They have got a lot of young players who have to develop and they have to take time with. You can see they’re talented but it will take time.’

Dublin believes the FA Cup is still a strong chance for Chelsea to pick up silverware

Dublin meanwhile stated that the FA Cup remains a ‘real chance of silverware’ for the Blues – which would end a disappointing season on a high.

He said: This is the last chance (for Chelsea to win a trophy), the players will think that as well. This is a real chance of silverware. 

‘They’ve had a poor season their standards are higher than that. Chelsea will expect a trophy every season that’s what the fans demand. This is about doing a professional Premier League performance against a side they should be beating.’