Mauricio Pochettino feels that Chelsea was dealt an unfair hand in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough due to a few minor mistakes. Despite the disappointing 1-0 loss at the Riverside, Pochettino is optimistic about the team’s chances of making a comeback at Stamford Bridge.
At the halfway point of the semi-final, the Blues are trailing 1-0, despite dominating the game. Pochettino acknowledges that the team must accept and confront the reality of their own errors, which allowed Middlesbrough to take the lead on the counterattack. Furthermore, Chelsea failed to capitalize on their own chances to score an equalizer.
The good news is that the team still has 90 minutes to turn the tie around, and Pochettino believes that a positive approach in the second leg can make all the difference.
Pochettino explained that their loss was due to mistakes made in the first half, resulting in them being punished. They had created several chances but were not clinical enough. In the second half, they dominated but failed to create enough chances. Middlesbrough deserved credit for their win. However, Pochettino remains positive about their chances in the second leg.
Regarding Armando Broja’s absence from the starting line-up, Pochettino stated that he had recently returned from injury and needed to be managed. He also discussed Levi Colwill’s versatility in defence and praised his performance despite the difficult night. Pochettino acknowledged that they are a young team with much to learn and improve upon.
