Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea's manager, expressed frustration over a familiar lack of finishing as his team succumbed to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough.
Despite possessing a star-studded lineup, Chelsea's struggles away from home continued, losing five of their last six away games. Pochettino's side must reverse the tie in the return leg at Stamford Bridge on January 23 to relieve pressure on the Argentine amid a challenging debut season.
"If we assess the performance overall, we were the better side, had clear chances, but we didn't score and weren't clinical," lamented Pochettino. "It happened a lot this season."
Boro boss Michael Carrick, facing injuries early in the match, hailed his team's remarkable victory over Chelsea's quality, emphasizing the challenges they overcame. Middlesbrough ended a scoring drought against Chelsea of over 17 years, with Hayden Hackney netting the decisive goal before half-time.
Despite Chelsea's dominance in possession during the second half, they struggled to break down the resilient Championship side. Pochettino acknowledged the need for improvement in the team's goal-scoring capabilities, hinting at potential reinforcements. Middlesbrough held on to their lead, setting the stage for an intriguing second leg against Chelsea.
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