Mauricio Pochettino expressed his “desperation” to secure silverware with Chelsea after guiding them to the Carabao Cup final with a convincing victory over Middlesbrough.
Despite winning three trophies during his tenure with Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino is yet to claim a major honor in English football. Following a resounding win against Middlesbrough, Chelsea, under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership, advanced to their first final of the season, where they will face either Liverpool or Fulham.
Expressing his eagerness to win a title with Chelsea, Pochettino emphasized the importance of the upcoming final against formidable opponents. He stated, “I’m desperate to win a title here. We won in one and a half years in Paris three trophies, and we want to win here. I’m desperate to win. It’s really important for us.”
Looking ahead to the final, Pochettino sees it as a crucial step for the team’s belief and confidence. He highlighted the significance of building trust within the squad, especially given Chelsea’s young team and their relative lack of experience in major finals. “This young team with this type of experience, to go to Wembley, we are going to build our trust and confidence and our mentality,” he said.
Pochettino also explained his decision to substitute Mykhailo Mudryk at halftime, citing concerns about the winger potentially receiving a second yellow card. The manager clarified, “If you watch the game, he got a yellow card. Then there was an action at the end of the first half that was too risky, if he touched the opponent he would have got a second yellow, and we didn’t want to take a risk. It wasn’t necessary to risk having him on. That is why we changed him.