Chelsea's lack of 'leaders' blasted by Arsenal legend, who blames Mauricio Pochettino for cup final embarassment

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Chelsea FC at Turf Moor on October 7, 2023 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is to blame for the League Cup defeat to Liverpool last weekend, with the Blues lacking real leaders in their team.

That's according to former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who has claimed that the problems down the road at Stamford Bridge run deep. Chelsea were beaten in extra-time by Liverpool to the League Cup, despite the Reds bringing on several teenagers, as Jurgen Klopp's inexperienced midfield overpowered Pocettino's £200 million pair of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

“The problem is that Chelsea didn’t have any leaders in the team, who would recognise that their team is under the cosh,” Wright said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. “Obviously, they have Thiago Silva, but he wasn’t on the pitch.

Thiago Silva of Chelsea on the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on September 2, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

Thiago Silva was unavailable for the final (Image credit: Getty Images)

 “In certain scenarios, a leader would recognise the problems and do something about it, but for Chelsea, there isn’t anyone who could do that for them.”

Wright contrasted the difference between the leaders that the Merseysiders have at their disposal with the lack of options among the Chelsea ranks while noting that Mauricio Pochettino has “not won anything”.

The Argentine had two lost finals to show for managing Tottenham after five years, before he went to Paris Saint-Germain and picking up Ligue 1 and Coupe De France titles. 

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright looks on prior to the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Ian Wright remains unimpressed with Chelsea (Image credit: Getty Images)

“When you look at Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and the experience these young players, who came on for Liverpool have played with, they’ve come on with a different mentality to these Chelsea players who are under pressure to perform in a final, for a manager who’s not won anything. 

“You could see the momentum changing, you can’t negate the Liverpool fans, and what they do, the manager has to take a lot of the blame, the players froze.”

More Chelsea stories

Arsenal to move for €100m Chelsea flop Mykhaylo Mudryk, in shock transfer twist: report

Chelsea ready to offload their 'smartest signing' of last summer, following League Cup embarrassment: report

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Gary Neville's 'billion pound bottle jobs' jibe

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.