The League Cup quarter-finals saw Mauricio Pochettino’s side and Fulham making it to the semi-finals. Fulham secured their spot after a win on penalties against Everton, while Middlesbrough, a second-tier team, secured a 3-0 victory against Port Vale.
Chelsea, after experiencing three defeats in their last five games, including a 4-1 loss at Newcastle, showed resilience to clinch a 4-2 victory on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Currently placed 11th in the Premier League, Chelsea was on the brink of elimination until Ukraine winger Mudryk scored the equalizer, leading the team to a successful penalty shoot-out.
Pochettino, whose only managerial silverware comes from a French league title and domestic cup with Paris Saint-Germain, now has a chance to claim his first trophy in England. This opportunity comes after he lost the 2015 League Cup final during his time at Tottenham.
For Newcastle, this defeat was a painful setback as they failed to avenge last season’s League Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley. The loss added to their woes following their Champions League group stage exit, further delaying their quest for a major trophy since 1969.
Newcastle seized the lead in the 16th minute due to Chelsea’s defensive lapses with Callum Wilson capitalizing on a defensive error to score. However, Chelsea’s France forward Christopher Nkunku, making his debut after a prolonged injury absence, played a pivotal role in securing a shoot-out for the team.
In addition, Fulham’s victory in the quarter-finals marked their first domestic semi-final since the 2002 FA Cup. It brought a sense of satisfaction to their manager, Marco Silva, who had previously been sacked by Everton in 2019.
In another fixture, Middlesbrough reached the semi-finals for the first time since their 2004 League Cup victory, as they comfortably defeated Port Vale. Michael Carrick’s Championship side convincingly ended Vale’s fairytale run in the competition.
With Liverpool hosting West Ham in the last quarter-final, the League Cup promises to deliver more thrilling encounters.
