Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has backed Chelsea to “challenge for trophies next season” if they appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.

The Blues are in freefall under the guidance of interim boss Frank Lampard currently but Neville believes the arrival of the former Tottenham boss could radically alter the club’s trajectory:

“I do think if they can get Mauricio Pochettino they can be moulded into a top-four team and challenge for trophies next season. I think they can make a real challenge next season and people might think I’m mad.”

A lot of things will need to change for Pochettino to be a success at Chelsea. Firstly, the first-team squad will have to be streamlined significantly, allowing the new manager to work with a smaller group of players.

On top of that, Pochettino will have to have some say on who is signed this summer so he can begin to create a team in his own image. At Spurs, he put together a high-pressing, energetic and youthful team so he will need to pinpoint players that would best fit that philosophy.

The Argentine also has to be given time for his ideas to bed in and bear fruit. Whether he will be afforded such leeway and influence at the club by the likes of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, though, is another matter.