Chelsea defeated Middlesbrough 6-1 on Tuesday night to go to the Carabao Cup final, marking their biggest victory to date under Mauricio Pochettino.
Through goals from Enzo Fernandez and Jonny Howson, the Blues quickly erased Boro’s one-goal lead from the first leg. Before Cole Palmer scored twice and Noni Madueke scored off the bench, Axel Disasi made it three.
After a difficult first few months at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino acknowledged he is “desperate” to win a trophy in England. His team will play either Liverpool or Fulham in the Wembley final.
Pochettino and his team will feel less pressure after the victory, as demands for another change in the dugout erupted following the first leg loss. Here’s how the country’s media responded to Chelsea’s overwhelming win.
A walk to the Carabao Cup final at Wembley
Football is cruel; talent wins a club more games than support, and Chelsea had players on the field worth about £500 million, according to Henry Winter of The Times.
Henry Winter, of The Times, wrote:”Football is brutal — support carries a team only so far, talent does more, and Chelsea had almost £500 million worth of players on parade.
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Because of two outstanding finishes, Cole Palmer (£42 million) was chosen as the player of the match. Despite facing EFL opponents, Enzo Fernández (worth £106 million) exuded the cunning and relentlessness of a world champion. From right back, Axel Disasi (£38 million) charged forward with all the ferocious intent of Branislav Ivanovic. Raheem Sterling (£47 million) moved to the left to make room for Noni Madueke (£29 million) after linking and creating nicely down the right.
But the catalyst — and captain — was Ben Chilwell (£50 million). In his first start after 118 days out with a hamstring problem, the left back made such a difference to Chelsea, giving them more urgency and tactical fluidity, and allowing Levi Colwill to take up his preferred role of centre back. With Middlesbrough defending deep, Chilwell was granted even more licence to push up. He constantly inverted into midfield, and Michael Carrick’s hopes of flooding the centre drained away.
This proved so easy for Chelsea, a stroll towards Wembley to the Carabao Cup final, proving superior to Middlesbrough in every department except the passion of their fans.
Genuine favourite of the Stamford Bridge faithful”
Matt Law, of The Telegraph, wrote about Ben Chilwell’s importance: “What a difference a left-back makes.
And how Chelsea have missed him. Wearing the captain’s armband, Chilwell looked like he had never been away and sent a message to Mauricio Pochettino to give up on playing him as a winger.
In a team that has struggled to capture the hearts and minds of the Chelsea fans, Chilwell is a genuine favourite of the Stamford Bridge faithful and they could not be more delighted to have him back.
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