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Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 3: Pochettino’s young guns relieve pressure on boss as Enzo stunner seals dominant FA Cup win
Chelsea dumped Aston Villa out of the FA Cup with an accomplished display
THIAGO SILVA’S missus had demanded that it was ‘time to change’ at Chelsea - and Mauricio Pochettino agreed.
He dropped Silva, fielded even more inexperienced kids than usual, and watched his youthful side tear Aston Villa to shreds to reach the FA Cup fifth round.
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The Blues had lost all of their last six matches north of the Watford Gap, with everybody telling Poch that his side lacked experience and nous.
But in the FA Cup, you often have to forget everything you thought you knew.
This certainly wasn’t a classic David-versus-Goliath Cup upset, given that Pochettino’s squad has had £1billion spent on it.
Yet it was a genuine shock, given Villa’s outstanding campaign and Chelsea’s calamitous recent form.
Pochettino benched not only veteran Brazilian defender Silva, but also Raheem Sterling, his next most experienced player - and named a starting eleven with an average age of 23, five years younger than Villa's.
But the visitors were faster, hungrier and far more clinical than Villa as goals from Conor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez sealed an outstanding performance.
Jackson was out of position on the wing, as was Cole Palmer at centre-forward but the ‘square pegs in round holes’ routine seemed to work in a match which defied form and logic.
Perhaps Pochettino, who often tossed off the domestic Cup competitions when manager of Tottenham, is going to become a knock-out specialist at Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on February 25 and will welcome their old chums Leeds in the last 16 of this competition three days later.
Having slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League with a dismal 4-2 home thumping by Wolves on Sunday, this was a thoroughly impressive reaction from Pochettino’s men.
The Argentinian had admitted he didn’t feel safe in his job while apologising for that debacle.
It’s been accepted wisdom this season that Chelsea have lacked wisdom. But this display flew in the face of all that.
Silva - whose wife Isabelle has now apologised for the social media post which had suggested Pochettino needed sacking - did not arrive until ten minutes from time, with Chelsea already home and hosed.
Unai Emery’s Villa side, chasing Champions League qualification, were given a thorough schooling by Chelsea’s kids.
Villa haven’t reached the FA Cup fifth round since losing the final to Arsenal nine years ago - indeed they’d gone eight seasons without winning a match in this competition before their third-round win at Middlesbrough.
They were fancied to win this replay after a goalless draw at the Bridge, but they were second best from the very early stages.
Chelsea settled well and, after Palmer had miscued a shot from a Noni Madueke centre, they grabbed the lead in the 11th minute.
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Skipper Ben Chilwell won possession high up the pitch and Chelsea pounced, Jackson cutting back to Madueke to lay off for Gallagher to ram a shot into the corner from the edge of the box.
Villa were straight back at them, Benoit Badiashile dawdling in his own box and almost letting in Leon Bailey, then Ollie Watkins having a rising shot pushed over by Djordje Petrovic.
But Villa were soon looking ragged, while Chelsea were showing greater desire in midfield and were pinning the hosts back well before their second arrived on 21 minutes.
Malo Gusto centred from the right, Diego Carlos completely missed his header, allowing Jackson to nod past Emiliano Martinez.
A huge contingent of away supporters who had been singing for Putin’s pal Roman Abramovich, were suddenly in raptures about the present day.
Those who follow this team regularly on the road could scarcely have believed their eyes.
Villa were struggling to string two passes together and Pochettino’s kids were playing them off the park.
Madueke skewered Douglas Luiz and motored down the right to feed Palmer, whose shot was pushed away by Martinez.
Villa almost pulled one back in first-half injury time when, after a bizarre foul throw from Chilwell, John McGinn’s powerful shot was pushed over Petrovic.
But nine minutes after half-time, it was even worse for Emery’s men as Youri Tielemans was penalised for a foul 25 yards out.
Fernandez curled home a wicked free-kick which had Martinez, his World Cup-winning team-mate, clawing at the freezing Midlands air.
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After that, Chelsea sat deep in front of the Holte End, held their shape and did the dirty work as Villa struggled to break them down.
Sterling finally arrived for the lively Madueke on 75 minutes, swiftly followed by Silva, as Pochettino switched to a back five late on.
Badiashile was forced to limp off in the dying minutes, which might help Silva’s chances of getting his place back in the starting line-up.
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Villa pulled one back in injury-time when Moussa Diaby thumped a low shot in off the post.
Still, there was little genuine trouble and strife for Silva - at least not on the pitch.
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