The costly squad under Pochettino has been vying for cup victories to make up for a lackluster Premier League season. In the second leg, they’ll have work to do.
Tuesday’s first leg of Chelsea’s League Cup semifinal match against second-tier Middlesbrough ended in a 1-0 loss when Cole Palmer missed a close range shot.Middlesbrough defeated its Premier League opponent at Riverside Stadium thanks to a goal from Hayden Hackney in the 37th minute.
The costly club that Mauricio Pochettino recruited has its sights set on cup trophies in an attempt to make up for a lackluster Premier League season. On January 23, they will have work to do at Stamford Bridge for the second leg.
“We missed too many opportunities to score where we should have.” That’s football, Sky Sports was informed by Pochettino. “We need to be positive for the next ninety minutes at Stamford Bridge.”
Since winning the League Cup in 2004, Middlesbrough has not advanced this far in the competition.
Hackney scored by running past Moises Caicedo, a midfield player signed for a large sum of money last summer, inside the box and deflecting Isaiah Jones’ low cross past Djordje Petrovic, the goalkeeper, and into the net.
It was incredible. Fantastic ball. I simply came to the end of it,” said Hackney, 21. “We advised trying to keep it tight and catch them on the counter before the game.”
In the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, Tom Glover, the goalkeeper for Middlesbrough, misplayed a shot by Enzo Fernandez, setting up a simple tap-in for Palmer, who had earlier in the half gone wide.
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Instead of being easily caught, Palmer attempted to volley the ball in from roughly five yards out after it bounced off Glover’s chest. But he got beneath it, and his attempt with his left foot flew over the crossbar.
Palmer, 21, paid over $52 million to transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea during the winter.
Palmer, a 21-year-old who cost roughly $52 million to sign with Chelsea from Manchester City in the off-season, is tied for the team lead in goals scored this year with eight.
The Championship’s 12th-place team, Middlesbrough, was defeated 1-0 by Aston Villa on Saturday in the FA Cup third round.
Michael Carrick, the manager of Middlesbrough and a former Manchester United player, said, “To beat a team of the quality of Chelsea, in any circumstances, is unbelievable.” “The boys were simply outstanding.” That evening was amazing.”
On Wednesday, Liverpool will face Fulham in the second leg of the League Cup semifinal.