Carabao Cup: Pochettino reacts to defeat to Middlesbrough

Chelsea suffered a defeat to Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The game ended in a 1-0 defeat for the Blues and their manager Mauricio Pochettino believed it was a punishment for their mistake.

Pochettino in a post-match statement said the Blues’ errors allowed Middlesbrough to take the lead on the counter.

Chelsea have a second chance to turn the outcome around, which Pochettino believes can happen with a positive approach to the second leg.

‘It’s so easy to explain,’ said Pochettino.

‘We made some mistakes in the first half and we were punished for that. We created big chances but didn’t score, we were not clinical enough. That is so clear. In the second half we dominated but we didn’t create enough chances. Middlesbrough deserve the credit of course.

‘It’s the first 90 minutes, the first half of the tie, and we are losing 1-0. In two weeks we are going to have the second leg and we have to be positive that we can win the game and go to the final. That is the objective.’