Mauricio Pochettino Predicts Carabao Cup Final As Chelsea Seek Retribution Following Massive Liverpool Defeat

The Blues manager conceded his side lacks character away from home, but he is convinced they can deliver at Wembley next month.

Mauricio Pochettino has stated that the Carabao Cup final will be different following Chelsea’s 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, which supplied him with information to strengthen the team.

On Wednesday night, the Argentine watched as Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Luis Diaz scored to help Liverpool win easily.

Christopher Nkunku scored a second-half goal, but the Blues were soundly defeated on Merseyside, with Darwin Nunez hitting the woodwork four times.

When asked what went wrong, Pochettino provided a brutally honest assessment. “To be honest, we didn’t perform in the way we wanted to perform,” he told me.

“They were better than us from the first action, through the 90 minutes. I think it’s so clear; they were more aggressive than us. For us it was difficult to connect and play.

“It was difficult to recover the ball at the first or the second touch. We lose the ball so easily. They won all the duels.

“When we say they compete better, in all of the areas they were better than us. This is why. Yes, in the second-half of the game, at 2-0, we have a clear chance with Mudryk to score, maybe it would build our confidence and start to feel better.

“Maybe there’s a penalty in the action of Nkunku to change the game. But even if we score and draw, I think it’s disappointing because our performance wasn’t great. It’s good to have this type of feeling. It’s only a game but it has provided us with good information.

“We want to be there and compete with a team like Liverpool who have been very good over the last few years, one of the best in England. We need to improve and learn from this type of game.”

The Chelsea manager outlined why he believes the Carabao Cup final on February 25 will be different, saying: “For sure, we’ll be at Wembley, and it’ll be different in a neutral setting.

“Of course, things are always different. Of course, that’s how the guys feel right now. It’s good because if we competed the same way we do now, the outcome would undoubtedly be the same.

“If we don’t improve, then it’s going to be difficult. Always the games are different. Now it’s always different circumstances.

“For us, it’s about to learn in this type of game. We were competing against a team that is on the top and of course, it’s good for us to feel that we need to improve because the way we were talking from the beginning.

“Of course, we know the circumstance that we have but it’s to realise we need to push ourselves a little bit more.”

Chelsea have won only four away matches in all competitions this season. Despite improving home form, the Blues are continuing to struggle on the road.

Pochettino admits there is a character issue while playing away from Stamford Bridge. He stated, “It is part of our individuality and character. We need to be more confident in ourselves.

“Of course we are improving at home, at Stamford Bridge, and last season that was a big problem. Now we need to feel confident performing away from home.

“We need confidence and trust. We need to have the capacity to have the same performance we have at home when we play away from home. It’s a matter of time.”