Mauricio Pochettino has described winning his first trophy in English football as a ‘dream’, though the Chelsea manager insists Liverpool are the favourites to win the Carabao Cup on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp suggested this week that it is 50/50 between the clubs, but Pochettino disputed that at his press conference, saying the Liverpool boss is being ‘clever’ in claiming that.
Owner Todd Boehly is flying in to watch the final at Wembley Stadium, hopeful that Chelsea can secure the first silverware of his tenure following his £1billion outlay on transfers.
Yet Pochettino has warned that Chelsea will need to be at their best to beat Liverpool, saying: ‘Liverpool are favourites because they have the experience to compete like a team and be involved in different finals.
'For many of our players, it's maybe their first final, that's why I'd make them favourite. He (Klopp) is clever enough to say 50/50.’
On the chance to win his first trophy, he continued: ‘It means a lot for us, the coaching staff, to have the possibility to arrive in the final and challenge a team like Liverpool to win our first title here in 11 years.
'It's a dream for us, we have the possibility, we have 90 minutes to achieve that. We are going to fight, the team is ready, it's a massive chance for us.’
Pochettino is looking forward to returning to Wembley, formerly the temporary home of Tottenham.
‘For me, Wembley is like home,’ Pochettino said. ‘We created a very good bond between Wembley and the team.
For sure it's going to be special to play there and to win there. We are going to give our best to be better than Liverpool and deserve to win the trophy.’
Thiago Silva is struggling to be fit for the final, having only returned to partial training.
‘We need to assess a few players still to see if they can be involved on Sunday,’ Pochettino added, with Chelsea in the midst of an injury crisis similar to Liverpool.
chris_lamboo
429
Common Arsenal fans let’s talk ,,Pepe had more UCL experience than the entire Arsenal players
9jaPrince
305
Liverpool should leave this one for us Please kloop so that we support you to win EPL. WE helped you give you 3 points last two weeks and also drew Man City 2x this season in the League, please allow us go Conference League with this Abeg 🥾🎤🙏🙏
Biodilmnyz
17
Quick recovery very hard game for the both but still Chelsea the blues all the way 💙💙💙🙏🏻