Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf urges Mauricio Pochettino to drop TWO players for Aston Villa clash

Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf has urged Mauricio Pochettino to drop two under-performing players.

The Blues completed a sensational turn around last night to reach the Carabao Cup final after they were beaten 1-0 by Middlesbrough in the previous leg. 

Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Axel Disasi and Noni Madueke all got on the scoresheet to help Chelsea towards a 6-1 win.

But, according to former French centre-back Leboeuf, Pochettino should drop two players for their upcoming fourth-round FA Cup clash against Aston Villa on Friday.

‘I agree with Craig (Burley),’ the Metro reported. ‘Mudryk should go. But I will be more keen to be stronger in the midfield zone.

The Blues completed a sensational turn around to reach the final of the Carabao Cup

I would put Gallagher instead of Madueke and maybe try to be strong defensively and play on transition and try to counter-attack with Palmer, Sterling and to finish hopefully Broja.

‘That’s the only option that you have. Madueke is a good player, but plays with instinct instead of thinking a little bit more about the game like Mudryk does.

‘They are talented players for the future with good skills but right now they are far away from what we expect for them.

‘Gallagher will make the midfield zone stronger so it’s why I’d go with that option. But it’s going to be a different game against Villa.’

Discussing Mudryk, Burley said: ‘Mudryk, he makes too many bad decisions to be in this Chelsea side at this moment in time. Whether it’s with or without the ball, his decision making is poor.’

Mauricio Pochettino was still as animated as ever on touchline despite the 6-1 victory

Leboeuf agreed with Craig Burley’s assessment of Mudryk and his ‘poor decision making’

He also insisted that against Aston Villa, Madueke should be dropped in favour of Gallagher 

Last night, John Terry congratulated Chelsea youngster Leo Castledine for making his debut.

The midfielder replaced Raheem Sterling 85th minute to earn his first appearance for the club at the age of 18 years old.

After spending the early parts of his career with AFC Wimbledon, he arrived at Chelsea in 2020 and would progress through their youth academy system.

Terry, who has been working in an academy consultants role with the club since last summer, took to X (formerly Twitter) to lump praise on Castledine.

He wrote: ‘Congratulations Leo Love him and so will the Chelsea fans, he is like a magnet in the box.’