“Will be massive” – Mauricio Pochettino eyes FA Cup triumph to achieve Chelsea’s European dream

After another summer of heavy spending, a lot was expected from Chelsea, especially after the arrivals of Moises Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer alongside several others. However, despite having Mauricio Pochettino at the helm, things haven’t quite gone to plan. Instead, seven months into the season and the Blues’ sit in 11th place with European football a distant dream.

But the club did reach the final of the Carabao Cup, where they lost to Liverpool and are currently in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and face Leicester City next. It means that while a top six place might be tough, the Blues are still in with a shout of playing European football by winning the FA Cup. That’s because the winners of the FA Cup qualify for next season’s UEFA Europa League.

Mauricio Pochettino wants Chelsea to qualify for Europe via FA Cup

The pressure has only increased on Pochettino over the last few weeks although Cole Palmer’s starring role in a 3-2 win over Newcastle United has eased things up a bit. But even then, the Argentine himself has added pressure on both his squad and him as he wants them to qualify for Europe through the FA Cup. It is still possible and the former Tottenham boss admitted that the chance to play at Wembley again is a second chance for his squad after their loss in the Carabao Cup.

“The expectations can be so high and low and the mood (of the players) depends on the day. For us to beat Leicester will be massive for us because there is a possibility for this team to play at Wembley again. Some players did not sleep the day before the (Carabao Cup) final and that is about experience in these situations and it has to be better,” Pochettino said, reported the Daily Mail.

“For us to challenge in the final and play in Europe through the FA Cup will be massive. We learned through experience and with the pain (of defeat) we learn more.”

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