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Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea are a “healthy group” after watching them edge beyond Newcastle on penalties at Stamford Bridge to book a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Newcastle seemed to have secured their advancement by keeping Chelsea at a distance for the majority of the match, thanks to Callum Wilson’s goal in the first half.
In the final moments, Mykhailo Mudryk entered the penalty area and successfully stole the ball from Kieran Trippier. He then made a precise shot into the far corner, saving Pochettino’s team.
Chelsea successfully converted all four of their penalty kicks while Trippier once again made a mistake for Newcastle, missing the target. Matt Ritchie also had his shot saved by goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Previously, Wilson had granted Newcastle a well-deserved advantage by capitalizing on a chaotic mistake made by Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile, ultimately finding an open lane to score on the counterattack.
The manager stated that giving up a goal in the manner we did, when we didn’t deserve it, can have a negative impact on any team.
“We responded positively, controlled the game against a strong opponent like Newcastle, maintained pressure in the second half, implemented substitutions and attempted to make an impact for the team.”
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The key factor in football is having unwavering belief until the very end. We maintained our belief and despite knowing that penalties are unpredictable, our talent and skill prevailed. Our goal was to advance to the semi-finals, and we have achieved it now.
“When the entire team is present, including those who were not able to play or were injured, they all expressed their joy on the field. We have a strong and united group of players, but they require time to fully recover. We provide a supportive environment for them to grow and get better every day. Our goal is to create a highly skilled team that can excel in competition.”
Pochettino finally allowed summer acquisition Christopher Nkunku to make his debut off the bench after recovering from an injury. He replaced the hard-working but relatively unproductive Nicolas Jackson with 20 minutes remaining in the game.
The manager emphasized the importance of not placing excessive expectations on the 26-year-old too soon, especially after a long period of time out.
The speaker mentioned young players or those who have recently joined and faced injuries, such as Christopher. They require playing time to showcase their abilities and reach their peak performance. Ultimately, it is up to others to evaluate their progress.
Our anticipation is for Nkunku to showcase his best, but it will take time for him to meet our expectations. Being present is one thing, but meeting our expectations is another.
Pochettino stated that Enzo Fernandez had to be substituted in the first half due to stomach illness, while Levi Colwill, who was substituted at halftime, was fatigued but not injured.
Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle, looked back on a lost chance for his team to make it to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup for the second consecutive year.
“It was a difficult conclusion to the game,” he stated. “We had a strong performance while playing away, but unfortunately, the last moments changed that. I was not anticipating a goal at that point.”
“It’s a common occurrence in a football game. We defended the field well and prevented them from having many opportunities. There are some good aspects to focus on, but at the moment we don’t feel satisfied.”
Source: The Independent website (URL: independent.co.uk)
