Mauricio Pochettino has three new Chelsea undroppables before Crystal Palace with Silva call

It would have been easy for Mauricio Pochettino to rip everything up at Chelsea after a week that saw them crumble. Two games, eight goals against, three for, back-to-back defeats.

Pochettino was quizzed, questioned, and interrogated. His players were written off. The owners were slammed. Co-sporting directors felt the full force of anger. The club, if it wasn't already following a fresh wave of boos and self-deprecating gallows humour chants, was on the verge of fully blown mutiny.

Heading into the trip to Villa Park there was little confidence from the outside that Chelsea would be continuing their FA Cup journey. Unai Emery's side had lost just three of their previous 19 at home — though they were coming off the back of defeat to Newcastle there last week. Chelsea entered with six losses in seven away from Stamford Bridge.

Trust in Pochettino, again from the outside, was totally shot. Yet, 45 minutes into the replay and Chelsea looked like a side that consistently won matches like this — they looked like a Chelsea from times gone by, like those that the fans were imagining when singing Roman Abramovich's name from the away end.

With pace, purpose, industry, youth, and commitment to the plan, Pochettino's side put in not only the best display of the season but one that could be transformative. This, after all, was the first time Chelsea had won a game against Premier League opposition without Thiago Silva playing a part since March last year.

The 39-year-old dropped out of the side. That is the known fact of the decision. The external noise around him can only be analysed. This game came just days after his wife, Belle, appeared to call for Pochettino to be sacked via a post online, something she later apologised for.

Enz