Pochettino has a big job on his hands (Picture: Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Robbie Savage has backed Chelsea to finish in the Premier League top four despite their slow start and warns Arsenal that they won’t win the title.
Chelsea are 12th in the table after winning just one of their opening four top-flight games under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Blues drew 1-1 with Liverpool, suffered defeats to West Ham and Nottingham Forest with their sole victory coming at home against promoted side Luton Town.
But Savage is backing Pochettino to turn things around at Stamford Bridge as he told Planet Sport Bet: ‘When Mauricio Pochettino was appointed I thought Chelsea would get in the top four, and I still believe that.
‘They’ve signed so many good, hungry players and with a manager like Pochettino and the way he can develop players and teams, I think that Chelsea will still finish in the top four.
‘With no European football the extra time on the training pitch is going to be so valuable to Pochettino.
‘When you look at how many players they’ve brought in it is going to take him a lot of time to galvanize this group and to get them playing the way that he wants.
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‘Pochettino has to find a system where the striker will score 20 or more goals a season, as the last No. 9 to do that for Chelsea was Diego Costa.
‘And as soon as he does that I think Chelsea will start firing on all cylinders and will, with time, be a huge success and start challenging for trophies under him.
‘The biggest thing is that he needs time. Graham Potter didn’t get that and it’s important that the board and Todd Boehly give that manager time. If they do that I believe that Chelsea will start challenging for trophies.’
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Savage made a more gloomy prediction about Arsenal, claiming that the Gunners will not lift this season’s Premier League trophy despite going so close last term.
‘Even with the acquisition of Declan Rice, I don’t think Arsenal can win the league, simply because of Manchester City,’ Savage added.
‘If City weren’t in the Premier League then I think Arsenal would win it, but unfortunately for Arsenal, they are.’
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