Pochettino seeks 'passport' to Wembley to kickstart Chelsea career

Chelsea are languishing in ninth in the Premier League despite backing Pochettino heavily in his first transfer window in charge.

But there has been some cause for optimism in recent weeks as Pochettino's men have put a miserable run of home form behind them to win six games in a row at Stamford Bridge.

Veteran defender Thiago Silva had to play peacemaker as a section of the travelling Chelsea support turned against Pochettino and his players when they lost to second-tier Middlesbrough two weeks ago.

Pochettino, though, is hoping the fans can roar his side on to a comeback to reach the club's first major final since Todd Boehly's consortium took charge of the club in May 2022.

"It's a passport to go to a final, to visit Wembley. It's a really important game for us and we need to show it's important for the club, for us, for everyone. We want to be in the final but first we need to beat a very good team, Middlesbrough, that in the first leg we couldn't beat," said Pochettino at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

"Of course, it's going to be tough, but we are confident that we can have a very good game against Middlesbrough in front of our fans. We need to take advantage of playing at Stamford Bridge with all the energy that will translate from our fans."

A series of injuries to key players has played its part in a difficult start to life at Chelsea for Pochettino. Midfielder Cesare Casadei and forward Diego Moreira have been recalled from loan spells at Leicester and Lyon respectively to bolster the squad.

 

January 22, 2024