After beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0 to progress to the quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino insists they are serious about winning the Carabao Cup this season.
When asked by Sky Sports if his side can start thinking of winning the Carabao Cup, the former Tottenham manager said; “I think so.”
He added; “We need to think that this is an important competition for us because we are not in Europe and that should be an opportunity for us, like in the Premier League and in January when we start the FA Cup.
“Of course we need to think that we can win this competition.”
Chelsea’s two goals were scored by Benoit Badiashile ( who was returning from a long-term injury) and Raheem Sterling, and Pochettino was left pleased with his side’s performance despite admitting them not being clinical Infront of goal.
“After Saturday it was important for us to win the game and get through to the next round of the competition. There were too many chances, we need to be more clinical, but that you cannot change from Saturday to today. It is about with time bringing confidence.
“But there were many positive things too. It was important to stay in and go through this competition that is important for us, building confidence.”
In the next round, Chelsea will battle Newcastle at home for a place in the semi-finals, with the game scheduled to take place in the week commencing Monday 18 December.
Newcastle beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday with two former Chelsea players in Timo Livramento and Lewis Hall vital in that victory.
Livramento provided an assist to Miguel Almiron for the opener, while Hall found the back of the net for the Magpies’ second.
Before these two sides’ encounter in December, Chelsea will have seven crucial league games to play, including five games against teams that finished above them last season Tottenham, Man City, Man United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle themselves.
