Mauricio Pochettino, on Friday, revealed that some squad members could not sleep in the lead-up to last month’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has disclosed that some players had sleepless nights before the EFL Cup final against Liverpool. The Blues were defeated by Jurgen Klopp’s men after Virgil van Dijk’s header in extra time sealed a 1-0 triumph for the quadruple-chasing Reds.
16:34 - 28.02.2024
Please don't sack me yet — Pochettino begs Chelsea owners for patience after Carabao Cup loss
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has urged the club's owners to give him time to turn things around.
15:08 - 27.02.2024
‘Chelsea did not play for penalties against Liverpool’, Pochettino fires back
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has, on Tuesday, clarified his post-match comments after the Blues’ Carabao Cup defeat against Liverpool.
What Pochettino said
In Friday’s press conference before Chelsea face Leicester in the FA Cup 6th round match at Stamford Bridge, the Argentine manager revealed what transpired the night before the EFL Cup decider but did not say how many players were affected.
“I think for us to beat Leicester, in a private room and inside of the dressing room in the training ground, would be massive for us,” Pochettino said in Friday’s press conference.
“To have another game, another possibility to play for this young team to play at Wembley again because, between you and me, some players didn't sleep the day before the [Carabao Cup] final. That is only about being more experienced and living together in this type of situation to make us better.”
Pressed to elaborate if it was one player or the whole group, Pochettino remarked: “I said some. Maybe one. I need to say some. I cannot say one. Some, some, some.”
Victory over the Foxes on Sunday takes Chelsea into another FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, as they seek another win at the Home of Football to put them in a position of success in the 2023-24 season and avoid a consecutive year without winning a trophy.
What comes next for Pochettino’s Chelsea?
Several members of Chelsea’s squad depart for international duty after Sunday afternoon’s game, with only a handful of players left at Cobham for the next fortnight.
Pochettino’s men return to Premier League action after the hiatus, with Burnley visiting Stamford Bridge on March 30.