Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says his side’s defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final 2024 was “so painful” after the Argentinian failed to win his first trophy in England courtesy of Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute header.
The Blues and their opponents both hit the woodwork and had goals ruled out during regular time at Wembley Stadium, where Conor Gallagher was also denied by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in a late one-on-one and Liverpool made three clearances off the line from one Chelsea attack with extra time looming.
“If you don’t score with the chances we had, it’s difficult to win the final,” a crestfallen Pochettino told Sky Sports after Van Dijk scored the only goal of the game to settle an absorbing contest.
“We need to take positive things, push and use this type of game to learn and be better. We need to be clinical in front of goal.”
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Chelsea have not lifted a domestic trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2018, while Pochettino is yet to win honours across a combined 11 years with Southampton, Tottenham and at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s lavish spending has continued during Pochettino’s first season in charge but the 2020/21 Uefa Champions League winners are a lowly 11th in the top flight, with the FA Cup their only remaining hope of silverware.
The manner of their defeat, against a Liverpool side forced to field a host of inexperienced youngsters because of a lengthy injury list, could be damaging to Pochettino’s attempt to revive his players’ fortunes.
SCENES! ????????#EFL | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/UiZIGxik7c
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 25, 2024
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool: Blues ‘need to feel pain’
“The way you lose is so painful but now we need to keep going keep moving,” said Pochettino.
“We created four, five, six big chances. In a game like today and in a final, to score first is a big advantage.
“We conceded in the last minute and it is difficult to react. The players are professional, they need to feel the pain.
“We played for a trophy we didn’t get. They need to feel the pain like us. The players feel the disappointment because we were so close to winning the game after 90 minutes. We congratulate Liverpool and keep going.”
Chelsea host Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday.
