Before Chelsea’s match against Liverpool this afternoon in the EFL Cup final, Mauricio Pochettino took the unprecedented step of penning an open letter to Chelsea supporters, which you can read in full on the team’s official website here.
The Chelsea manager has urged supporters to work with the players to create a terrifying environment at Wembley today in order to “create something special”:
“Everyone is aware of Chelsea’s past. It’s enormous, and everyone knows what this club expects of them. This includes the owners, players, Cobham, Stamford Bridge, Academy, and women’s team personnel.
In addition to supporting us as a team, a large number of club members will be present at Wembley today to assist in transferring the atmosphere of the final to the fans who are unable to attend the game. We can only experience these unique experiences and make these memories when we are all together.
We share your desires. We wish to carry forward Chelsea’s customs. This trophy is ours.
It just goes to show how significant Pochettino must believe this aspect of the game will be in the present. This game is played in a neutral venue, unlike the crushing we suffered at Anfield last month. Wembley, however, is expected to be filled to capacity with fervent Reds, and unless Chelsea fans find a way to speak up, this might turn into a problematic environment for them.
An open letter that pays homage to your early years is a daring approach for a league cup final, but Pochettino understands he must utilise every resource at his disposal to defeat a seasoned and driven Liverpool squad.
