Mauricio Pochettino on the verge of another Wembley trip as Chelsea secure FA Cup last eight spot
Chelsea are enduring a difficult season and it seems more of a disaster after that loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup finals but Mauricio Pochettino can take heart from the fact that the Blues saw off Leeds United to book a spot in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.
Chelsea have another opportunity at silverware in the FA Cup. The Blues were on the receiving end of a very late winner at the weekend thanks to Virgil van Dijk against Liverpool in the dying minutes of extra time. Yesterday, Chelsea scored one of their own. Conor Gallagher scored in the final minute of the game to knock Leeds United out of the FA Cup and advance into the quarter-finals.
Despite the inconsistency at Stamford Bridge this season, Chelsea is showing signs of growth. Recent matches against Manchester City and Liverpool demonstrate their progress, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side displaying tactical discipline and creating clear goal-scoring opportunities.
In the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, Chelsea had a higher expected goals (xG) than their opponents, with 2.96 compared to Liverpool’s 1.68. This indicates that Chelsea did not deserve to lose the match, highlighting the unpredictability of football.
Furthermore, Chelsea is currently the most vertically attacking team in the league. With the right structure and guidance from Pochettino, they have the potential to capitalize on this and continue their upward trajectory.
Focus on the positives
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, reflecting on Chelsea’s victory against Leeds United, highlighted the team’s growing belief and the implementation of their ideas on the pitch.
Pochettino stated via Fabrizio Romano on X:
“In the last four weeks, we are doing a fantastic job. The team is fighting, starting to behave as a team.” He emphasized the importance of time and balance in building a cohesive unit, acknowledging the need for patience as they continue to develop.
The Blues have demonstrated resilience in recent weeks, and Pochettino aims to maintain this consistency moving forward.
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Todd Boehly has reportedly granted Mauricio Pochettino time until the end of the current season to prove himself at the club. As Chelsea enters the crucial phase of the season, they aim to find their rhythm and compete for silverware to salvage their pride.