“Chelsea are back” – Mauricio Pochettino has found the formula to hand Chelsea glory in the Carabao Cup final

“Chelsea are back” – Mauricio Pochettino has found the formula to hand Chelsea glory in the Carabao Cup final

In the intricate tapestry of Mauricio Pochettino’s initial tenure in the managerial spotlight, these days stand as atypical benchmarks. The Chelsea ensemble, under his astute guidance, exhibits a proclivity for excelling against football’s upper echelons, leaving the remainder ensnared in the web of unpredictability.

The tally thus far: two hard-fought points pilfered from the clutches of Manchester City, a solitary point wrestled from Arsenal, and a triumphant three earned against Tottenham’s backdrop.

A sense of misfortune clung to the loss at the hands of Manchester United, a defeat that seemed incongruous considering the plethora of opportunities meticulously crafted by Pochettino’s tacticians. Liverpool, too, grudgingly relinquished a solitary point, though the resounding echoes of last month’s resounding defeat at Anfield resonate as an indelible imprint on their collective psyche, an ominous specter preceding the imminent Carabao Cup final at Wembley this Sunday.

Pochettino’s strategic prowess shone brightly at the Etihad Stadium, garnering acclaim until the 71st minute. A paradigm shift unfolded as the composed Cole Palmer made way for Trevoh Chalobah, triggering a defensive stance with five at the back, albeit an unsuccessful attempt to safeguard a slender one-goal lead.

Despite the setback, nascent signs of resurgence peppered the narrative.

Chelsea thrives in games where the onus befalls the adversary to seize control, capitalizing on opportune moments to execute swift counterattacks. A modus operandi reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s renaissance at Manchester United, albeit the Norwegian’s perennial struggle to metamorphose his squad into possessive dominators.

Pochettino grapples with a parallel challenge: navigating a roster bloated with surplus talent, some of whom he deems dispensable, while concurrently devising a short-term system that yields results.

The blueprint unveiled against City presents the optimal strategy to unsettle Liverpool—a confluence of Conor Gallagher’s relentless pressing, Raheem Sterling’s ethereal maneuvers, and Palmer’s visionary orchestrations. Chelsea boasts the artillery to dismantle the best, a claim substantiated by extended periods of dominance on the Etihad turf.

Sterling articulates the sentiment: ‘We had chances to finish the game off, although so did they in fairness, but we had some really good opportunities to seal the win.’

The recourse to counterattacking stratagems stems from the labyrinthine recruitment decisions plaguing the club. The formidable duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, both stellar midfielders, often find themselves operating in parallel roles. Deployed as a pair, as witnessed against City, they flourish harmoniously. However, a change in directive, such as facing Wolves at home, unveils less flattering outcomes. Factor in the impending return of deeper midfielder Romeo Lavia, and the complexity compounds.

Pochettino discerns the imperative need for flexibility in his managerial philosophy to navigate the current season’s vicissitudes. Chelsea’s astute dealings in the previous summer require replication for the impending transfer window, targeting reinforcements in the striker and central defender positions.

Encouraging signs have permeated recent performances, with a commanding triumph at Aston Villa in the FA Cup and a gritty conquest over Crystal Palace underscoring the squad’s resilience.

Pochettino’s plea for more time resonates, yet a burgeoning belief germinates—a foundation upon which he can construct a promising future for Chelsea.