Why Chelsea Must Win FA Cup – Mauricio Pochettino Reveals
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has revealed that his team considers the FA Cup very important in their quest to qualify for a European competition.
The current plight of Coach Mauricio Pochettino and his team in the Premier League depicts a struggle, with their prospects for securing a European spot by the end of the current season appearing quite slim.
Presently, Chelsea holds the 10th position in the league standings, having accumulated 28 points from 20 games, trailing 4th-placed Arsenal by a margin of 12 points.
Given this situation, attaining a position within the top 6 spots on the Premier League table, which secure European qualification, appears highly challenging for them.
Therefore, Chelsea’s most secure route to qualify for the Europa Conference League is by winning either the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup.
Advancing to the Carabao Cup semi-final, they are set to face Championship club Middlesbrough at 9 p.m. on January 9. Additionally, their FA Cup third-round encounter against another Championship club, Preston, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 6.
“Through the FA Cup or Carabao Cup, we can achieve that [being in Europe next season],” Pochettino said.
“It’s a really important competition for us because we are not in Europe.
“In the Premier League, we are in a position that we need to grow and improve a lot if we want to be in Europe next season.”
Even though the last time Chelsea won an FA Cup was in 2018, and are currently struggling in the Premier League, coach Pochettino is confident that his team can do it again this season.
“Of course [we can win the FA Cup],” Pochettino said.
“The Carabao Cup and the FA Cup are competitions we need to try to go far [in].”
He continued: “We are going to treat it like a Premier League game.
“Just because it’s the FA Cup and it’s a Championship team, we are going to respect Preston. You will see we are going to put in place a starting XI with all the guarantees to perform.”
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
