Mauricio Pochettino has urged Armando Broja to be patient if he wants to continue playing for Chelsea.

Broja has mostly had to play from the bench this season after beating an ACL injury earlier in the campaign.

The 22-year-old was a late substitute in Chelsea’s goalless FA Cup fourth-round draw with Aston Villa on Friday night, amid reports he may be on his way to a Premier League rival before the end of January.

Speaking on Broja’s situation ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino told reporters: “It is part of football.

“If you want to be at Chelsea, when you perform well and score goals, you are there, if you’re not scoring, you are there.

“If you play, you are there, if you’re not playing, you’re there. In the end, you can’t escape. If we want all the benefits of being in this club, we need to accept that it is a massive responsibility. You are always going to be judged. It is normal.

“If you’re a coach, staff member or player and can’t deal with the pressure, it is difficult to be at the top. You can [be involved in] football, but maybe not at this level.”