Currently positioned 11th in the Premier League standings, the Blues’ hopes of securing silverware this season dwindled following a lackluster performance against Liverpool at Wembley. Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute goal sealed Chelsea’s fate, marking their sixth consecutive domestic cup defeat—a record in English football. Pochettino’s cautious approach during extra time contributed to this defeat.
Despite facing Liverpool’s injury-stricken lineup, Chelsea opted to sit back rather than press for a late winner in extra time. Their passive approach backfired when Van Dijk capitalized on a Kostas Tsimikas corner in the dying moments of the match. Pochettino’s post-match remarks further irked Chelsea supporters.
Pochettino’s statement, “The team felt maybe the penalties would be good for us,” was met with strong criticism from Chelsea fans. One supporter expressed disbelief, labeling it as a sackable offense, especially against Liverpool’s weakened lineup. Others echoed similar sentiments, condemning Pochettino’s mindset as disgraceful and calling for his dismissal.
Additionally, Chelsea fans noticed Pochettino’s disregard for co-owner Todd Boehly on the way to collect his runners-up medal. This incident sparked speculation among supporters that Pochettino’s job might be in jeopardy, with Boehly potentially considering his future following this latest controversy.