After nine years of waiting, Mauricio Pochettino has finally reached a cup final in England. However, simply reaching the Carabao Cup final won’t be enough for the Chelsea head coach; he must win it. Chelsea’s dominant 6-1 victory against Middlesbrough in the semifinals confirmed their first Carabao Cup final appearance since 2022, where they lost to Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s team will once again be their opponents if they can overcome Fulham in the second leg. While Chelsea has been regulars in cup finals in recent years, Pochettino’s lack of success in knockout competitions during his time at Tottenham has always been a stain on his record.
Pochettino’s failure to deliver similar success during his five-and-a-half years at Tottenham has always counted against him. He rarely prioritized the domestic cups, often focusing on Champions League qualification through a top-four finish in the Premier League. As a result, Tottenham reached just one Carabao Cup final and lost to Chelsea. Their FA Cup campaigns were also disappointing, with two losing semifinals. Pochettino’s ability to prioritize was due to Tottenham’s lack of financial resources and squad depth, but that is not the case at Chelsea.
Since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea in 2003, the club has been transformed into a serious contender in every competition. The change in ownership in 2022 did not alter Chelsea’s demand for success. Despite the club’s recent struggles and numerous managerial changes, they still expect to win trophies. Over £910 million has been spent on 25 new players, and the club remains one of the top contenders in English football. Pochettino’s young team is still developing, but they are slowly improving and becoming more consistent.
Chelsea’s recent 6-1 victory against Middlesbrough showcased their progress. The team has won five of their last six games in all competitions, with players like Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernández, and Cole Palmer producing standout performances. This win marked a significant step forward for Chelsea, and it is clear that progress is being made under Pochettino’s leadership. However, winning a major trophy is the ultimate way to prove that progress and solidify Pochettino’s status as one of the game’s top coaches.
Producing exciting young teams, as Pochettino did at Spurs and Southampton, is not enough without tangible results. Winning trophies is the ultimate goal, and Pochettino needs to deliver. If Chelsea faces Fulham in the Carabao Cup final, they will be strong favorites to win. However, if their opponents are Liverpool, Pochettino’s side will be considered underdogs. Regardless of the opposition, Chelsea carries the weight of expectation that comes with being one of the top clubs. The team possesses talented players such as Sterling, Palmer, and Thiago Silva, and they are led by a coach with a hunger to prove himself.
The Chelsea team under Pochettino is still a work in progress. However, they are now just one win away from winning a trophy, which is a remarkable achievement considering the recent upheaval at the club. Despite the challenges and changes, the sky is beginning to clear for Chelsea, and a trophy win would be the perfect way to mark their progress. It is also a crucial opportunity for Pochettino to cement his place as a successful coach in English football.
The pressure is undoubtedly on for Mauricio Pochettino to win the Carabao Cup. After years of waiting and a mixed record in cup competitions at Tottenham, Pochettino must prove that he can deliver success at Chelsea. The club’s expectations, the talented squad, and the hunger for silverware all contribute to the pressure on Pochettino. The recent victory against Middlesbrough showcased the progress being made under his leadership, but winning the Carabao Cup would be the ultimate validation of that progress. As Pochettino and Chelsea prepare for the final, they are aware that only a victory will satisfy the demands and expectations of the club and its fans.
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