Former Chelsea player Gus Poyet has backed his former side to turn around the one goal deficit in their Carabao Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough, labelling the tie as a ‘must win’.
Gus Poyet was speaking with hayers.com on behalf of William Hill
Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney’s struck the only goal in the first leg, as the Championship outfit shocked their Premier League opposition at the Riverside, after Chelsea missed a hatful of chances.
Chelsea’s chances of winning a trophy this season do not get much better, but have it all to do at Stamford Bridge. Mauricio Pochettino has certainly felt the heat in the Chelsea hot seat, and a semi-final defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough may increase the pressure back on the Argentine.
Poyet says he is feeling confident ahead of the second leg, that Chelsea can overturn the tie and book at a place at Wembley.
“I am pretty confident they will, I will put it in other words – they should. Sometimes there are games that are must wins, and this is a must win. To just to win the game, they must get to the final”, said Poyet.
“The opposite will be…woah careful, it would be dangerous, you must win, and you must get to the final. I think this is a must for Chelsea.
“It is Chelsea! It is Chelsea and you have to win! I think now it is a key moment. Those three wins, the semi-final – if you qualify for the final, even if you win the final, it will completely change the situation because the players are young and winning a trophy with Chelsea that will pull them to a better level.
“So let’s see. I think it is important now to try and get a trophy and finishing the season strong so next season will be totally different for sure.”
If Chelsea do reach the final they will face a fellow Premier League side in either Liverpool or Fulham at Wembley Stadium.
The former Brighton boss hinted that nobody’s job is safe in football. He himself has experienced the harsh realities of football management.
Poyet believes that reaching the final will help Chelsea fans get back onside with Pochettino.
“Like I said the cup game now, it has become very very important for the rest of the season. If you do not qualify for the cup final, and have a bad run of results – look at Jose Mourinho at Roma. If Mourinho is getting sacked, any one of us can get sacked tomorrow”, said the former Brighton boss.
