- Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says he is “desperate” to win trophies in England after his side qualified for the League Cup final on Tuesday.
- Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 6-1 in the second leg of their semifinal at Stamford Bridge.
- Chelsea will face either Fulham or Liverpool at Wembley next month.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says he is “desperate” to win trophies in England after his side qualified for the League Cup final on Tuesday.
Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 6-1 in the second leg of their semifinal at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will face either Fulham or Liverpool at Wembley next month. The first leg had ended in a 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough.
At the break, Chelsea led four goals to two goals from Cole Palmer, with goals from Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, and Noni Madueke. Jonny Howson’s own goal gave the West Londoners an early advantage in the second leg.
Pochettino. Photo/Sky Sports
The 51-year-old Argentine took charge of Paris St. Germain in the 2021–22 season and won Ligue 1. He has coached Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, and Espanyol in the past. In addition, he led them to the Trophee des Champions and the French Cup.
“We won, in one year and a half in Paris, three trophies. We want to win here, of course.”
“I’m desperate to win the title here”
According to Sky Sports, Pochettino told reporters after the match that he is anxious to win a trophy with Chelsea and that the team’s emphasis would now move to the final.
“I’m desperate to win the title here,” Pochettino told media. “In a year and a half in Paris, we won three trophies, and we aim to win another here. Naturally, I am anxious to win.”
“In some ways, it’s an incredible accomplishment. I believe that was our goal when we first started: to establish a team from almost nothing, with no Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League.
“The job is done but now it is about winning the final.”
Before a pivotal match at Wembley on February 25 between Fulham and Liverpool, Pochettino has urged the supporters of the team to strike a balance between being patient in the pursuit of trophies and having faith in the work his players are doing on the field.
Mauricio Pochettino won the first major award of his managerial career in only two weeks after taking over as head coach of Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021. The Argentine is now just 90 minutes away from winning an elusive first trophy in English football.
After five seasons of trying and failing to win anything with Tottenham Hotspur, Pochettino may commemorate his first season at Stamford Bridge with an EFL Cup, after Chelsea overcame Middlesbrough’s incredible run in the semi-finals with a resounding comeback.
Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring against Middlesbrough. Photo Chelsea
“Sometimes we can think about the history of Chelsea and the missing players,” Pochettino stated in an interview with Sky Sports. “Since we’re still young, we must develop.”
“These kinds of games are enjoyable for younger players, and as they develop, they will make it easier for us to compete. We are assembling an excellent team. It’s a positive mindset. We only need time, but we have enough.”
“I think the performance, which I was never disappointed in, was due to our lack of clinicality. Today, I believe, is our ninth game without a loss, which is fantastic. It’s a new project. We are building a team, and it is normal to play poorly at times. We played well but didn’t win, but this will be a significant boost for us.
“We don’t have much time to prepare for Aston Villa, and with so many injuries, I believe we’re very satisfied. People must believe and trust in us, and we will go to the final with the opportunity to win the season’s first trophy.
Chelsea’s next game is an FA Cup encounter against the fast-moving Aston Villa on Saturday, January 27. On February 1, they play Liverpool in the Premier League.
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