Mauricio Pochettino’s favourite word is ‘brave’. If you do not have it on your bingo card at his press conferences, more fool you, because it is a banker. It even features in the name of his book ‘Brave New World’, in which he writes: ‘Always be brave. I like to be brave.’
But Chelsea’s manager betrayed that promise in extra time of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s kids were there for the taking as we entered those 30 minutes and yet his team turned defensive, with Pochettino explaining why in his post-match presser.
He said tiredness meant they decided it was to best to play for penalties – an approach which risks being remembered as one of the worst tactical tweaks in the cup final history.
This was no time to declare. It was when Chelsea needed to go for the throat – to persist in their press, to push up the pitch, to ignore settling for the lottery of a spot-kick and seek the win. That would have been brave. What unfolded can only be categorised closer to cowardice.
If Chelsea had been ‘brave’ in the way that Mauricio Pochettino likes then they might have avoided defeat in extra time
The Chelsea manager betrayed that promise of bravery in extra time of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s kids were there for the taking as we entered the final 30 minutes and yet Chelsea turned defensive
Pochettino put it on his team, suggesting they took it upon themselves to apply the handbrake. ‘We cannot blame,’ he said of this doomed new direction in extra time. ‘We cannot say nothing.’
We have seen Chelsea managers lose control of their players at Wembley – Maurizio Sarri in the 2019 Carabao Cup final when Kepa Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted was an extreme example – and this was the moment when Pochettino needed to take charge.
It was on him to stop what was unfolding because the 90,000 supporters inside of Wembley could sense that Chelsea’s team, dropping ever deeper, were vulnerable.
Virgil van Dijk’s header only confirmed what had been coming – a defeat that will be felt deeply at Cobham, mentally and physically.
Chelsea know what a chance this was. A chance to end their Wembley curse against the weakest Liverpool side they had faced. A chance for Pochettino to lift his first trophy in England.
A chance for Todd Boehly to get some silverware in return for his remarkable outlay. A chance to secure European football for next season, even if the Europa Conference League is not the competition that Chelsea truly desire.
Instead, they blew it, and one poll conducted on social media in the aftermath asked whether Pochettino would have been sacked by now if Roman Abramovich was still in charge. The outcome was unanimous as close to 90 per cent of the 20,000 voters said yes.
Pochettino put it on his team, suggesting they took it upon themselves to apply the handbrake when energy levels were flagging
Virgil van Dijk’s header only confirmed what had been coming – a defeat that will be felt deeply at Cobham, mentally and physically
Championship high-flyers Leeds United are next on Wednesday in the FA Cup, the competition which represents Chelsea’s last chance of a celebration this season.
For Pochettino’s sake, you hope for a braver showing at Stamford Bridge that the surrender we witnessed in extra time at Wembley.
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