Klopp shows Chelsea how to win with young players
For Chelsea executives like me, life must be a complete mess right now. When you lose 1-0 against a bunch of Liverpool’s kids in the Carabao Cup final, everyone seems to be applauding them, even though you spent $1 billion on children and were made fun of for it.
Nevertheless, the Chelsea starting lineup had a total age that was 16 years younger than Jürgen Klopp’s by the end of extra time, when Liverpool appeared to have raided the club creche in search of bodies to throw into the fight. On the other hand, Chelsea was mocked as bottlers who had lost a huge chance, while Liverpool was applauded for having faith in their kids. However, that is the distinction between urgency and what could be called the plan. Although James McConnell, a 19-year-old midfielder, shone out for his presence and poise on the ball, Klopp was justifiably commended for having faith in his young players. However, the only reason he was employing them was due to injury.
Although Klopp didn’t want to rely on three teenagers, he acknowledged that it was necessary and took advantage of the circumstance, starting them even before the allotted 90 minutes. If a confidence trick is a fundamental component of management, then there’s no better way to boost those players’ self-esteem than to put their trust in them for the duration of extra time and beyond. Klopp made a virtue out of an emergency. It would have been very simple to use them reluctantly as if they were only being used because other players were worn out, but instead, he made full use of their energy, which caused the game to shift back in Liverpool’s favor. Chelsea had been leading the game towards the end of the ninety minutes.
So it makes sense to wonder why Mauricio Pochettino had no reliable choice when Chelsea’s legs went into extra time. He was allowed to make six modifications, but he only made four. And that’s maybe the difference between Chelsea’s established team and youth system, which was put together over ten years with a sense of unity and purpose, and whatever Chelsea has been doing for the past two years, which is selling off academy products to leave a mismatched group of inexperienced talent. Chelsea’s system has a clear direction of travel even with eleven injuries.
The precise nature of this Chelsea endeavor is still a mystery. It was shocking to hear so many people implying that Chelsea was the favorite before kickoff, even with all of Liverpool’s injuries. The team that began the day 10 places and 25 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table is Chelsea. It’s true that Chelsea under Roman Abramovich somehow prospered despite perpetual intrigue and turmoil, as though they were some footballing version of the Borgias. However, memories of what they were before the Todd Boehly/Clearlake takeover may linger, and the realization of how chaotic their spending was may not have quite sunk in.
While it’s true that Chelsea’s position in the league does not necessarily reflect their genuine state of affairs, there comes a point at which the numbers are simply that—numbers. Chelsea’s forwards waste possession in the opposition box and their defenders make mistakes on their own, which accounts for both the team’s lower goal total and higher goal conceded. However, this is to be expected of young players who lack the experience to make the right decisions, possibly more so when there aren’t any more seasoned players to learn from.
It’s informative to see the age distribution of the two XIs on the pitch at the end. All of the Chelsea players ranged in age from 20 to 26; eight of them were in the 21–24 age range. Liverpool still had two 27-year-olds, a 32-year-old, a 31-year-old, and a 26-year-old to provide the three teens with a tactical and emotional framework in which they might flourish. Maybe Thiago Silva was meant to take the lead, much like Virgil van Dijk has, but for a 39-year-old who requires protection from people charging at him, that’s a big ask.
Perhaps more than anything else, though, Liverpool had a narrative, a tale, and a wave of emotion they could ride. You can’t just buy it; you have to earn it over time. Perhaps the team will eventually be under too much pressure due to all the injuries—Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endō departed Wembley on crutches, adding to all the pre-existing issues—and the emotional intensity of Klopp’s farewell tour, which cannot be maintained for another three months. However, Liverpool is now leading. In his last season, Klopp had one trophy and might win three more. There’s a feeling that the team is moving as a unit behind a highly regarded manager.
Such peace, such a purpose, seems lightyears away for Chelsea.