Mauricio Pochettino was disappointed with Chelsea’s poor finishing in their Carabao Cup loss to Middlesbrough

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Mauricio Pochettino conceded that Chelsea’s defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg was primarily due to their own shortcomings. The manager acknowledged that Chelsea’s finishing was subpar, with Cole Palmer missing several chances, contributing to their 1-0 loss. Pochettino pointed out the team’s wastefulness in the final third and identified “mistakes” at both ends of the field as the culprits for their defeat.

The lone goal of the match came from Hayden Hackney in the first half, securing a historic 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough against the five-time Carabao Cup winners at the Riverside Stadium. With this result, Middlesbrough holds a narrow advantage heading into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on January 23. Pochettino’s acknowledgment of Chelsea being their own worst enemy suggests that self-inflicted errors played a significant role in their setback against the Championship side.

Chelsea faced a disappointing fifth defeat in their last six away matches, falling 1-0 to Middlesbrough despite registering 18 shots, only managing to get five on target. The match marked their sixth game of the season in which they failed to score. Despite acknowledging the team’s dominance and numerous clear chances, the manager expressed disappointment in Chelsea’s lack of clinical finishing, a recurring issue throughout the season.

Reflecting on the performance, he emphasized Chelsea’s superiority, creating more opportunities but failing to convert them into goals. The manager highlighted the team’s struggle with finishing as a persistent problem, resulting in several games not being won due to their inability to score. However, he remained optimistic, considering it’s only the first half of the tie and emphasizing the opportunity to bounce back in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Middlesbrough’s 1-0 victory was significant, marking their first win over Chelsea since August 2006. In that match, Mark Viduka’s 90th-minute goal secured a 2-1 victory in the Premier League. The Teessiders had previously lost nine consecutive games against Chelsea, failing to score in any of those encounters.

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Now, Middlesbrough finds themselves just 90 minutes away from a return to Wembley, a venue they haven’t graced since winning the 2014/15 Championship play-off final. Manager Carrick is also harboring dreams of a return to the national stadium, a place where he had numerous appearances for both club and country.

Expressing the significance of the achievement, Carrick acknowledged the two-legged nature of the affair and the upcoming game, but he emphasized the special nature of defeating a team of Chelsea’s quality. He highlighted the challenges Middlesbrough has faced, including injuries, the squad’s current state, and setbacks, making the victory against Chelsea particularly remarkable.

Carrick praised his players, describing them as exceptional and noting the outstanding effort and spirit displayed during the match. He expressed immense pride in their performance, characterizing the night as incredible. Understanding the broader impact, Carrick shared his delight not just for himself but for the entire team and supporters. The manager found the joy and happiness among the people associated with the club to be truly special.

Looking ahead to the second leg, Middlesbrough recognizes the challenging task awaiting them at Stamford Bridge. The team acknowledges that they will need substantial assistance and are fully aware of the difficulties ahead. Despite this, they plan to approach the game with the same attacking mindset they displayed in the first leg and remain open to the possibilities that may unfold.

Middlesbrough’s last Carling Cup triumph occurred two decades ago at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where they secured a 2-1 victory over Bolton. Notably, the goalscorer from the recent victory, Hayden Hackney, was just a few months old during that historic moment. However, Hackney is determined to emulate the success of the 2004 team and expressed satisfaction with their performance in the first leg. Acknowledging the distinct challenge of playing away from home, the hometown hero pledged to give their best effort in the upcoming match.