24 February 2024 , 08:00
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Mauricio Pochettino has risked an FA rap by demanding fair treatment for Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final.
The Blues boss feels his side were badly let down by the officials when they lost 4-1 at Anfield last month. And he wants to make sure cup final ref Chris Kavanagh isn’t influenced by the emotion of what could be Jurgen Klopp’s last game at Wembley.
Pochettino said: “I want to be treated in a fair way. What we need to be sure of is that we are going to be fair in every single decision. When we played in Liverpool, I think not one key decision was given to us. Two penalties not given. Duels, 50/50, always another colour.
“I am one of the first to say Liverpool is an amazing club. Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world. But after my last experience, playing there, what I want in Wembley is to go there and for nobody to feel the pressure, for people around, to feel the pressure, you understand?
“There is no pressure for him. Maybe for people who want to celebrate with Liverpool because he is leaving…It’s his last season here, we want for people to give or to see the things in the same way for both teams.” Chelsea felt aggrieved they were denied two penalties at Anfield on January 31, while Liverpool missed one.
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Pochettino robbed of lucky mascot
Pochettino has a chance to win his first trophy since joining Chelsea in the summer (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Mauricio Pochettino has joked that he is going into Sunday’s Carabao Cup final without his lucky mascot. Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel once jokingly claimed it was his lucky shoes which helped the Blues win the Champions League. But asked whether he had picked up anything lucky from his three trophy wins with Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino quipped: “Yes - Mbappe!”
France star Kylian Mbappe will not be available to him this time, and Pochettino was having none of it when asked about opposite number Jurgen Klopp’s cheeky claim that Liverpool are not favourites. But the Blues boss insisted that regardless of personnel, it’s players that win you the big prizes in cup finals, and he trusts his.
Pochettino said: “Finals are about players. They are the most important part of the game. We are not important. You need to have the players in the best condition, with full energy and the capacity to compete. For Chelsea to be there with all of the circumstances I think is a massive achievement. A lot of good teams are not going to be there Sunday.”
Pochettino was far from happy following Chelsea's last meeting with Liverpool (Getty Images)Liverpool may be complaining about injuries ahead of their Wembley showdown but their opponents seem to have struggled with an injury crisis all season. And while Klopp claims the Merseyside giants are not favourites to win, they are 25 points ahead of Chelsea in the league.
Pochettino said: “He is one of the best coaches in the world and he is clever enough. I think Liverpool is favourite because after eight years they have experience and have been competing in finals. For some of our players it is maybe their first final. Are Liverpool favourites? For sure. And he knows it is like this."
Chelsea followed up their 4-1 spanking by Liverpool at Anfield on January 31 with a 4-2 home defeat to Wolves which left Pochettino’s job hanging by a thread. But he claims it helped spark a mini-revival with the team unbeaten since, beating Aston Villa and Crystal Palace and drawing at Manchester City.
Pochettino said: “You learn from the games that you play. In the last few weeks we are learning a lot. We arrive in a very good condition. Beating these teams has provided the team with some confidence and some trust. The team is awake now. It was a click to change. Something that was missing in the first part of the season. Now the team is improving.
“In the last three games we have competed really well. When you experience some moments you need to wake up. It was a positive moment after Liverpool - a completely unfair result. But maybe that was good for us, to feel the pain, to have a negative situation against us, and to find the way to compete better and be stronger. To live in a different way the spirit of the team. You can see now on the pitch. The communication is much better. We are ready. And we want to win.”
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