After almost a decade of waiting, Mauricio Pochettino has finally led Chelsea to a cup final in England. The emphatic 6-1 victory against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semifinal second leg secured Chelsea’s spot in the final. However, simply reaching the final will not be sufficient for Pochettino; he must win it. This will be Chelsea’s first Carabao Cup final since their loss to Liverpool in 2022, and if they overcome Fulham in the second leg, they will face Liverpool once again on February 25. While Chelsea has been a regular presence in cup finals in recent years, Pochettino’s lack of success in knockout competitions during his time at Tottenham has always been held against him.
Throughout his tenure at Tottenham, Pochettino never seemed to prioritize domestic cup competitions. He often expressed that securing Champions League qualification was the primary goal for Spurs, either by winning or finishing in the Premier League’s top four. As a result, Pochettino’s track record in cup competitions is not impressive. In six attempts at the Carabao Cup, Tottenham reached only one final, which ended in defeat against Chelsea. Their performance in the FA Cup was slightly better, with two losing semifinal appearances out of five campaigns. Pochettino’s ability to choose his priorities at Tottenham was largely due to the club’s limited financial resources and squad depth. However, the situation is different at Chelsea.
Since Roman Abramovich’s takeover in 2003, Chelsea has always been a serious contender in every competition. Despite Abramovich’s departure in 2022 and the club’s subsequent change in ownership, the expectation for success remains the same. Pochettino is the fourth manager at Chelsea since the ownership transition, and considerable investment has been made in the squad. £910 million has been spent on 25 new players, with many others leaving the club. However, despite the resources available, Chelsea has experienced periods where success seemed distant.
Pochettino’s young team is still in the development stage but has shown signs of progress. Their recent 6-1 victory against Middlesbrough was their fifth win in six games across all competitions. Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernández, and Cole Palmer have consistently delivered standout performances for Chelsea. Sterling provided three assists in the first half, Palmer scored twice, and Fernández contributed a goal of his own. Additional goals from Jonny Howson (own goal), Axel Disasi, and Noni Madueke completed Chelsea’s dominant display. Despite Morgan Rogers’ late consolation goal for Middlesbrough, the result showcased Chelsea’s improvement.
After a period of upheaval and uncertainty, Chelsea now has an opportunity to win a major trophy. While winning is always important to Chelsea, it holds even greater significance for Pochettino. As one of the game’s top coaches, Pochettino needs to justify his status by delivering silverware. Building exciting young teams, as he did at Spurs and Southampton, is not enough if it does not culminate in trophies. If Chelsea faces Fulham in the final, they will be strong favorites to win. However, if their opponents are Liverpool, they will be considered underdogs. Nevertheless, Chelsea, one of the most successful clubs of the past decade, carries the weight of expectation regardless of their opponent. The team possesses the talent, experience, and motivation to succeed, with players like Sterling, Palmer, and Thiago Silva boasting trophy-winning credentials.
While this Chelsea team is still a work in progress, they find themselves just one win away from lifting a trophy. This situation bodes well for both the team and Pochettino, especially considering his recent arrival at the club. Despite the challenges and uncertainty surrounding Chelsea in recent years, progress is finally being made. Pochettino’s opportunity for redemption lies in winning the Carabao Cup final and silencing his critics. This achievement would not only validate his coaching abilities but also demonstrate that Chelsea’s investment in him was justified. As the road to the final approaches its climax, Pochettino and his young Chelsea side have the chance to etch their names in the club’s storied history.
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