Mauricio Pochettino expressed his dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s subpar goal scoring performance in their defeat against Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea’s Argentinian head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, was left disappointed as his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie. Hayden Hackney’s goal secured the victory for Michael Carrick’s side at the Riverside Stadium.

Despite having 18 shots on goal, Chelsea only managed to get five of them on target, continuing their poor away form with a fifth defeat in their last six matches. This was also the sixth game this season in which they failed to score, highlighting their struggles in front of goal.

Pochettino expressed his disappointment, stating, “We had too many chances to score and we didn’t score. That is football, of course. I’m really disappointed. If we assess the performance, I think overall we were the better side. We created more chances, we had clear chances. But, we didn’t score and we were not clinical.”

Despite the defeat, Pochettino remained positive, acknowledging that there is still another leg to play at Stamford Bridge on January 23. He emphasized the need for his team to be more clinical in front of goal in order to secure a victory.

For Middlesbrough, this victory over Chelsea is their first since August 2006. The win puts them in a strong position heading into the second leg, with a chance to secure a return to Wembley, a place they haven’t played since winning the Championship play-off final in the 2014/15 season.

Manager Michael Carrick expressed his delight at the victory, considering the challenges his team has faced with injuries and setbacks. He praised his players for their exceptional effort and spirit, describing the night as incredible. Carrick also acknowledged the importance of the upcoming second leg and vowed to approach it with the same attacking mindset.

Middlesbrough’s previous Carling Cup success came two decades ago at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and Hackney, the goalscorer, expressed his determination to replicate that achievement. He commended the team’s performance and emphasized their commitment to giving their best in the second leg.

Overall, Middlesbrough’s victory over Chelsea has set up an intriguing second leg at Stamford Bridge, with both teams eager to secure a place in the Carabao Cup final.