25 February 2024 , 11:31
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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will tell his players to embrace their nerves during the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Pochettino's men will start as underdogs at Wembley but have the chance to sting an injury-hit Liverpool side with Cole Palmer, Conor Gallagher and Christopher Nkunku among those hoping to cause a perceived upset and earn Pochettino his first trophy in English football. After multiple heartbreaks with former club Tottenham, one of which was against Liverpool and the other Chelsea, the Argentine coach is desperate to silence his critics with a steely performance at Wembley. In an open letter to fans ahead of Sunday's final, Pochettino revealed what he'll be telling his players before kick-off.
"We will remind the players that when the heart beats a little faster, that is when you must be ready to fight," the Blues manager wrote. "As a coach you must be relaxed ahead of a final to be clear in your thinking. It's the same for my staff. We all believe in our players and 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."
The ex-Spurs boss continued by warning supporters that despite their injuries, Jurgen Klopp's title-chasing Liverpool will pose a significant threat. "Liverpool will not make it easy," Pochettino added. "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."
Another wish of Pochettino's is for a fair game, as when these two teams last met on January 31, Chelsea weren't happy with various key decisions in the game. "I think we need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision," Pochettino told a press conference, warning against potential bias given that it could be Klopp's final trip to Wembley as Liverpool manager.
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"When we played against Liverpool at Anfield, I think too many decisions … not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s, always for another colour. Always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.
"Of course, we are going to celebrate. I am the first who is going to say that Liverpool is amazing and Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world. But I think after my last experience playing there, what I want in Wembley is to go there and not feel the pressure. It is to play a game at the same level and the best team will win. But not to feel the pressure of people around."