Mauricio Pochettino expressed he is ‘desperate to win a title here’ after Chelsea emphatically secured their place in the Carabao Cup final, defeating Middlesbrough 6-1 on the night at Stamford Bridge.
In what was the biggest game of their season so far, Chelsea were clearly a class above their opponents. After succumbing to a shocking 1-0 first leg defeat, Pochettino always believed in his team to turn it around.
“I think we are improving from the start of the season. If you look at the circumstances, I think you need to be happy,” said Poch.
“We don’t listen too much when we don’t win or don’t score, the most important thing is to keep focus and see the reality.
“To build a team from zero and it was an objective to be at Wembley in February, the job is done but now it’s about to win the final.”
Embed from Getty ImagesFor the majority of this squad, it will be their first cup final for the club and a big step towards turning the tide that they’ve been fighting against this season. The doubters can be silenced and Pochettino knows just how important it is.
“It’s really important for us. We are playing Fulham or Liverpool two amazing teams and it’s going to be difficult,” he said.
“But we need to believe we can win. It is an important step. It is going to help with motivation, maybe the injured players want to come back seeing the final so close.
“I am desperate to win a title here. We won in Paris three trophies and we want to here, of course. I am desperate to win.”
Pochettino was beaten by Liverpool in his only Champions League final appearance as Tottenham manager, now he could face them as Chelsea boss with a chance at silverware on the line again.
He built that young Spurs team up for years but failed to cross the finish line. So, in the early stages of this Chelsea project he knows what this could do to the mentality of his players to finally get over that line.
“It’s important because this young team, this type of experience to go to Wembley. I think Chelsea’s mentality is amazing: the club and how they want to win,” he explained.
“But we are a new team and we need to build this confidence and the trust.”
