The Carabao Cup might not have been Chelsea’s best priority at the start of the season, but they are 180 minutes away from a chance of winning a trophy that
Mauricio Pochettino hopes to be the catalyst for a new era of good luck at Stamford Bridge.
A two-legged semi-final against Championship side Middlesbrough represents a huge opportunity for Chelsea to reach Wembley.
With no European football this season, Pochettino has taken the Carabao Cup seriously and is expected to be his most powerful team tonight at the Riverside Stadium.
For the Argentine, a final against Liverpool or Fulham is an opportunity to respond to criticism that he has won anything with Tottenham.
More importantly, it is a possibility for Chelsea to replace their history with their new owners.
It took Roman Abramovich 18 months to win his first trophy at Chelsea and, after a difficult first season and a half, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital adapted to that.
After Jose Mourinho guided Chelsea to the Carling Cup in 2005, back-to-back titles followed.
Much has been replaced in the 19 years since then, and winning the Premier League is arguably more complicated in an era of Manchester City dominance. But what remains unreplaced is that Cup good luck can advance a task.
“The mentality of the club is to win,” said Pochettino, who challenged his players to show they have the mentality of former Chelsea teams.
“We have a winning mentality at Chelsea and we can’t communicate any other way. But today’s team – the staff, the coaches, the players – we have to build on that and adapt to the club in terms of mentality. “
Despite 3 wins in a row since Christmas, Chelsea still seem to be coming back. At times this season, everything has seemed flat, from the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge to the beloved young players on the pitch.
Defeats, injuries and a poor mentality have undermined Pochettino’s attempts to gain momentum. He is asking for more and more time, with Chelsea tenth in the standings.
Pochettino accepts his shortcomings. After beating Preston in the FA Cup on Saturday, he said he was “disappointed” with Cole Palmer for mocking a poor early ruling, telling him to get in and out of the pitch.
Armando Broja, who scored the first goal at the weekend, was told to improve his body language. Enzo Fernandez, who completed the scoring, was praised by Pochettino in the same breath as criticism was delivered.
Pochettino was unhappy Chelsea took Preston lightly and is well aware of the threat posed by Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough, who sit 12th in the Championship but are just four points outside the play-off places and gave Aston Villa an FA Cup scare at the weekend.
“We have to adapt to their preferences and their energy,” he said.
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