HBut things are developing differently and Moises Caicedo and Mihailo Mudric could be in action this week as they prepare for Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United on Monday night Prepare for the game. Instead, the pair of players who could end up costing Chelsea nearly £200m to sign find themselves thrust into the firing line again three days after a humiliating defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
However, despite the contribution of both men, Mauricio Pochettino’s side ended up beating Leeds United only to progress to the sixth round without spending anything on one player. Ironically, Conor Gallagher may have to be sold in the summer to balance the books after an unprecedented spending spree of over £1billion. On this evidence, they should do everything they can to keep him.
Pochettino has promised that his players will react after the Wembley nightmare, admitting on the show that he “didn’t have much” to say to his players after the incident “because they You need to feel the pain first before you can act. “Be”.
Caicedo was heavily criticized for his performance against Liverpool, who also wanted to sign Caicedo from Brighton in the summer for a British record fee that could rise to £115m. While Mateo Joseph was at fault for his opening goal, and the Ecuadorian midfielder did set up Nicholas Jackson for Chelsea’s equalizer, he remains a shadow of the highly sought-after player he was last summer. Arsenal targeted him and Mudric as key transfer targets last January, but they rejected Brighton’s offer for Caicedo and turned their attention to signing Declan Rice in the summer.
Mudric was reportedly in tears when he called Arsenal this week after Chelsea belatedly entered the race for his signature and his proposed move to north London failed to materialize. An initial fee of £60m could rise to £90m, putting Mikel Arteta’s side in a difficult position, with Brentford boss Thomas Frank calling it “crazy”. But even though Mudrick showed glimpses of his immense talent before starting to fade from the No. 10 role here, the feeling of frustration is never too far away. “He needs time,” Pochettino said of the 23-year-old.
It was the first time the two clubs had met in this competition since the famous final in 1970, which was decided by David Webb’s extra-time goal in the replay at Old Trafford. But while there’s still no love lost between them, and Chelsea have won each of their last six Premier League games against Leeds, the visiting fans arrived in west London with real hopes of an upset, having been in contention since late December. defeat.
Most were in the party mood and jeered when Raheem Sterling missed a cross inside the opening five minutes after Mudrick’s clever pass. The prospect of a famous win came when Joseph, a distant cousin of Spanish-born former England striker Emile Heskey, took advantage of confusion between Axel Disasi and Caicedo as Chelsea tried to break away from the defence. Seems more likely.
To Pochettino’s relief, they hit back immediately, with some good interplay between Caicedo and Noni Maduk providing Jackson with a chance to equalize. Some Chelsea fans greeted the goal with a whispered chorus of “We win it all”, while one waved a banner that read “Don’t worry about a thing” in reference to their win over Crystal Palace a few weeks ago .
Such inner peace has seemed unlikely since Mudric’s high-profile move to Stamford Bridge last January, but nothing gives a player confidence like goals. Minutes earlier, he had been targeted by the visiting fans when he took a corner kick, and he was delighted in front of them when he converted Sterling’s cross with a brilliant first-time shot. celebrate.
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Pochettino seemed to appreciate his efforts, patting his striker encouragingly on the back after he managed to stop the ball coming out in front of the dugout.
Caicedo’s reckless yellow card for a reckless challenge on Joseph three minutes into the second half – his ninth of the season – suggested Chelsea were locked in a tussle after the break. Jayden Anthony’s selection on Joseph proved to be a deserved equalizer after a period of concerted pressure from the hosts.
Having failed to make a greater impact on the proceedings, Mudric may have thought his night was over when he mistakenly controlled the ball to his calf but Pochettino opted to let Sterling go in front of the home fans. Ended with boos. Continuous games. In the end, it was Gallagher who saved Chelsea’s blushes.
