CARABAO CUP FINAL

Mauricio Pochettino urges officials: Ignore Klopp hype when making decisions

Chelsea head coach was unhappy with decisions that went against his side at Anfield last month — and he wants the referee at Wembley not to be influenced by emotion

Tom Allnutt

Friday February 23 2024, 10.30pm, The Times

Pochettino appealed for fairness while calling Klopp one of the best in the world
DARREN WALSH/CHELSEA FC VIA GETTY IMAGES

Tom Allnutt

Friday February 23 2024, 10.30pm, The Times

Mauricio Pochettino has urged the officials for the Carabao Cup final not to be swayed by the hype around Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool farewell.

Klopp could ensure his final season ends with at least one trophy by beating Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, as the 56-year-old looks to add to his seven titles at Liverpool before leaving in the summer. Liverpool are still in the hunt on four fronts this term, with the Europa League, FA Cup and Premier League all within their grasp.

Pochettino, the Chelsea head coach, was unhappy with key decisions that went against his side last month when they were thrashed 4-1 at Anfield — the away side had two penalty appeals rejected — and he wants the referee at Wembley, Chris Kavanagh, and his team not to be influenced by the emotion surrounding Klopp’s departure.

The Chelsea head coach said that no decisions went Chelsea’s way in the recent meeting with Liverpool

PETER BYRNE/PA WIRE

“Maybe there are people that want to celebrate with Liverpool as he is leaving,” Pochettino said. “What we need to be sure is that we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision. When we play against Liverpool in Liverpool, I think not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s were always for the other colour, always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.

“I am the first to say Liverpool are amazing and Klopp is one of the best coaches in the world but after my last experience playing there, what I want at Wembley is to go there and for nobody to feel the pressure, to play the game and the best will win. Not to feel the pressure, [from] people around.”

Pochettino’s suspicion of the momentum behind Klopp is reminiscent of his irritation with the way Leicester City beat his Tottenham Hotspur side to the title in 2015-16. Pochettino believed the good feeling towards Leicester’s fairytale run began to seep through to their opponents during the final few weeks of that season.

“It’s nice, Liverpool is an amazing club and I love Klopp, he is amazing,” Pochettino said. “It’s his last season here and we go to compete in the same way, both teams, and to see it for both clubs in the same way. We want to win because of Chelsea, not another bad involvement in the game [that is] part of the celebration of Klopp leaving. That is important.”

Pochettino clashed with then Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink as Tottenham lost out to Leicester in the 2015-16 title race

SHAUN BOTTERILL/GETTY IMAGES

Pochettino said winning a trophy would be “amazing” for his young Chelsea side and that silverware could accelerate the rebuild, with Chelsea sitting tenth in the Premier League, 14 points off the top four.

Winning at Wembley would also give Pochettino his first trophy in England and help to dispel the doubts about his ability to secure the biggest titles.

Pochettino lost two finals with Tottenham, in the League Cup to Chelsea and the Champions League to Liverpool, but he has claimed trophies as a coach abroad, after leading Paris Saint-Germain to the league and cup in France. Asked if he had a lucky charm with PSG, Pochettino said: “In Paris? Yes, [Kylian] Mbappé!”