Ex-Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle has backed Mauricio Pochettino to succeed if he is appointed the Blues’ next head coach.

The former Spurs boss is expected to be announced as Frank Lampard’s permanent successor very soon, and Hoddle believes Pochettino’s ability to work with young players makes him the perfect man to get the best out of the current Chelsea squad:

“It looks to me like a good fit for them. I think Mauricio would’ve been waiting for the call from Tottenham, if I’m really honest, but that hasn’t come, and that’s pretty evident. I can see him going to Chelsea, yes. I think they wanted to give him (Potter) time, build something from the academy, and bring youngsters in. That’s where Poch has done that at Tottenham.”

“It was a young group of players he moulded and got them to play like they were playing. He wants them to press… I think he’ll be excited about the squad that he’s taking over there, without a doubt.”

Hoddle is right on the money here. Both at Southampton and Tottenham, Pochettino has managed to nurse young talent and get the very best out of them.

On top of that, his style of play benefits from having youthful players who have the energy and work rate to carry it out. Combined with his years of experience of working in the Premier League, it should be the right fit, as long as the Argentine is given the authority to do his job.

With both Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique having dropped out of the race, there are legitimate concerns about Chelsea’s hierarchy but, hopefully, they can develop a good working relationship with Pochettino.