Mauricio Pochettino hails Reece James return as Chelsea boss spells out trophy ambition
The Blues boss was delighted his captain returned and built up his side’s chances to win glory in the Carabao Cup
Chelsea needs to “think about winning” the Carabao Cup, according to Mauricio Pochettino, after Manchester United and Arsenal are eliminated from the competition.
On Wednesday night, the Blues advanced while their opponents suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Raheem Sterling and Benoit Badiashile over Blackburn.
Manchester City and Tottenham have already been eliminated from the competition, while United and Arsenal suffered losses to West Ham and Newcastle, respectively. Liverpool is still in the competition.
When asked if Chelsea ought to consider winning the Carabao Cup, Pochettino responded, “I believe so.” It is imperative that we consider this to be a significant competition.
Pochettino Urges Chelsea Stars to Embrace Challenging Run as Carabao Cup Success Becomes Vital
In a recent statement, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the absence of European competitions as an opportunity for his team, akin to the Premier League and the FA Cup. Tuchel expressed the belief that they could triumph in the Carabao Cup, stating, “Of course, we need to think that we can win this competition.”
Reece James, who made his first start since August in their recent victory, received praise from Tuchel. The manager was delighted to see his captain return and emphasized James’ influence, particularly with upcoming matches against Tottenham and Manchester City. Tuchel stated, “He is really important, always. When you decide that he’s your captain, it is important that he stays fit, can play, and help the team. He’s an important player for us.” Tuchel also commended James’ skills, considering him one of the best full-backs in the world. He expressed disappointment over James’ limited playing time in the previous match against Liverpool and his subsequent absence until now.
Furthermore, Tuchel’s comments underscore the need for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City encounters to be approached with a survival mindset. He called upon the Chelsea stars to embrace the challenging run of fixtures and give their all to secure positive results.
In light of Chelsea’s less crowded schedule without European commitments, Tuchel’s focus on Carabao Cup success is seen as a means to revive their season. The manager appears determined to go all-in and prioritize this competition, urging his team to give their best efforts and bring back the much-needed momentum.
In a related development, it is emphasized that Chelsea chairman Daniel Levy should learn from the lessons of the Pochettino era in order to improve under current manager, Ange Postecoglou.
Overall, Tuchel’s statements reflect a strong desire to achieve success in the Carabao Cup and revitalize Chelsea’s season, while also highlighting the importance of Reece James’ return to the team.
“The temptation is: ‘Okay, come on go and play 90 minutes’. But we need to be careful. Little by little he is going to get fit and cope with the demand of the games.”