Mauricio Pochettino was not happy with a reporter after he was asked about dropping Thiago Silva for last week’s FA Cup clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Pochettino fielded Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile in central defence against the Villans, just days after Thiago’s wife seemingly called for him to be sacked, following Chelsea’s 4-2 loss to Wolves in the Premier League.

The 51-year-old has repeatedly said the decision to leave out the Brazilian for the trip to Villa Park was purely tactical, and when he was asked about it again recently, he angrily said: “All the players are in the same position as him. We take a decision based on the performance. It is not different for him. I can only play with 11. If you want to change the rules, you can.

“That is your opinion. That is not a question. If you believe that, why are you asking me? Why you are not sitting here? You can take my place? You can take the decision and you can pick the starting 11. No? You want to come here?

“I always take my decision trying to provide good balance to the team. I don’t see the passport or the age of the player. Always it is about the quality, how we can get the best balance of the team.

“But from the beginning we were playing with him, without him, with Levi (Colwill), with Benoit when he was available. Benoit was not available for a long time. He was injured and now we need to assess him. (Trevoh) Chalobah was injured. ‘

“(Wesley) Fofana was injured. Reece James was injured. Ben Chilwell, injured. Always we try to get the best balance for the formation and to pick the players that can perform and win games.”

Silva returned to the starting line-up for the game against Crystal Palace.