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Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea fell to defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, despite fielding the stronger starting XI.
Chelsea played against a Liverpool team missing 7 first-choice starters and were still unable to defeat the Reds.
Here, we look at the 3 mistakes Blues' boss Pochettino made in the disappointing defeat.
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22:59 - 25.02.2024
Carabao Cup: So painful — Pochettino explains why Chelsea lost to Liverpool
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino criticises his players' finishing following the Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool.
Starting Nicolas Jackson was a mistake
In recent weeks, Chelsea had found success employing the false nine system, particularly with summer signing Cole Palmer excelling in that role.
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However, manager Pochettino opted to revert to using Nicolas Jackson as the primary striker for the Blues.
Unfortunately, the Senegalese striker faced challenges against the formidable defensive duo of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahim Konate.
The decision to shift back to Jackson didn't yield the desired results, exposing a recurring issue for Chelsea throughout the season – a lack of sharpness in front of goal.
Pochettino waited too long to make substitutions
Pochettino's decision to delay substitutions proved to be a missed opportunity for Chelsea.
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As both Sterling and Jackson faced difficulties making a significant impact on the game, the Chelsea boss should have been more proactive in the second half.
Recognizing that Chelsea was gradually gaining momentum, introducing fresh legs and tactical changes could have capitalized on the team's growing presence in the match.
Pochettino failed to impose his will on Liverpool's kids
Playing against a team missing 7 starters and filled largely with inexperienced and wide-eyed teenagers, Pochettino failed to take advantage of the situation.
The Blues struggled to dominate midfield, instead preferring to attack with speed, often turning the ball over.
They will also walk away from this game with big regrets after missing good chances in a performance that Pochettino will want to forget soon enough.
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