Currently sitting in 11th place in the Premier League, Chelsea’s aspirations for silverware this season took a significant blow after a lackluster performance against Liverpool at Wembley. Virgil van Dijk’s decisive goal in the 118th minute sealed Chelsea’s fate, marking their sixth consecutive defeat in domestic cup competitions—an unprecedented streak in English football. Mauricio Pochettino’s cautious tactics during extra time exacerbated their downfall.
Despite facing a Liverpool side depleted by injuries, Chelsea chose a defensive approach instead of pressing for a late winner in extra time. This conservative strategy backfired spectacularly when Van Dijk capitalized on a Kostas Tsimikas corner in the dying moments of the match. Pochettino’s post-match comments only served to further infuriate Chelsea supporters.
Pochettino’s assertion that “the team felt maybe penalties would be good for us” was met with vehement criticism from Chelsea fans. Many were incredulous, considering it a sackable offense, especially against a weakened Liverpool side. Others condemned Pochettino’s mindset as disgraceful, calling for his immediate dismissal.
Furthermore, Chelsea fans noted Pochettino’s apparent disregard for co-owner Todd Boehly while collecting his runners-up medal. This incident fueled speculation among supporters that Pochettino’s job might be on the line, with Boehly possibly reassessing his future involvement following this latest controversy.
Despite Boehly’s substantial financial investment, surpassing €1 billion in transfers since his arrival in 2022, Chelsea has failed to yield significant returns on investment. This lack of success has led to growing dissatisfaction among fans, casting doubts on Pochettino’s suitability for the managerial position.
