Pochettino reveals his frustration during Chelsea’s victory over Middlesbrough
Mauricio Pochettino, reflecting on Chelsea’s semi-final win over Middlesbrough, expressed disappointment at conceding a late consolation goal. The Blues had a comfortable lead with goals from Jonny Howson (own goal), Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, and Cole Palmer (brace). However, Morgan Rogers scored a late goal for Middlesbrough near the end of the match, frustrating Pochettino. He emphasized the need for his team to play seriously until the end and not lose focus.
Pochettino admitted his disappointment with conceding a goal as it goes against their aim of using every second to prove themselves. He expressed the need for his team to be more focused, especially when building with the available space and capacity. Although the late goal did not dampen his overall happiness, he expressed some disappointment in concluding the game.
Overall, Pochettino was impressed with Chelsea’s clinical nature in front of goal, particularly contrasting their performance in the first leg. He mentioned that being clinical was something they missed in the previous match and it made a significant difference this time. He saw these types of games as valuable experiences for young players and believed it would help their growth and competitiveness. Pochettino acknowledged that they are building a strong team with a good mentality, but emphasized the need for time. He mentioned their unbeaten streak and considered it a positive sign for the new project they are working on.
