Mauricio Pochettino wants his players to take inspiration from Chelsea teams of the past when they face Liverpool in Sunday’s EFL Cup final, saying collecting silverware is part of the Blues’ DNA.
Pochettino will have the chance to deliver his first trophy in English football – and Chelsea’s first under the Todd Boehly regime – when the Blues face Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Chelsea have endured a difficult first season under Pochettino, sitting four points adrift of seventh-placed Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League and facing a battle to qualify for Europe.
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However, Pochettino accepts expectations will always be high at Stamford Bridge, calling on his young team to embrace the challenge which awaits them at Wembley.
In an open letter to the club’s supporters, Pochettino wrote: “Today at Wembley we can create something special. A memory that lives with us all. A moment that endures.
“Finals have this power. They unite us. Families will come together and be connected in their emotion. Friends will share this experience and be bonded.
“We all believe in our players and in the way we work. This season has not always been easy, that is the reality. But the trust between us as a team has remained really strong.
“That has helped us reach Wembley and it will help us in this final. Now we must do what Chelsea do; win.”
???? Chelsea vs Liverpool. And it’s LIIIIIIVVVVVVEEEEEEE! ???? #CFC | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/PE6Q2UO5EB
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2024
Opponents Liverpool are fighting for silverware on four fronts and will be determined to kickstart Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour with a trophy on Sunday.
Though the Reds are without several key players including Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota, Pochettino has warned they will put Chelsea under pressure from the off.
“Liverpool will not make it easy,” he continued. “They are capable of bringing a storm on the pitch and when it arrives, we must be ready to give our best to achieve what we all want.
“We will remind the players that when the heart beats a little faster, that is when you must be ready to fight.
“We all know the history of Chelsea. It is massive and everyone understands the expectations of this club. We want the same as you. We want to continue the traditions of Chelsea. We want this trophy.”
Looking back on finals past… ????️@TSilva3 ????️#CFC | #CarabaoCupFinal pic.twitter.com/Bcgm57yWq1
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 24, 2024
