Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino on his side needing to turn round EFL Cup semi-final ahead of second leg against Middlesbrough. The Blues lost the first leg at the Riverside 1-0
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00:00 With Paul Gunwald.
00:02 Hi Mauricio.
00:03 Hello, how are you?
00:04 Mauricio, it feels like a significant game this week, obviously a cup final.
00:10 It's normal, yes, it's true.
00:12 We cannot lie.
00:14 It's a passport to go to the final, to visit Wembley.
00:18 I think it's a really important game for us.
00:21 And yes, I agree with you.
00:24 We need to show that it's really important for the club, for us, for everyone.
00:28 We want to be in the final.
00:34 But first of all, we need to beat a very good team, that is Midtjylla.
00:38 In the first leg, we cannot beat them.
00:42 And of course, it's going to be tough.
00:44 It's the first half of the leg.
00:47 Yes, we are confident that we can, again, Midtjylla to have a very good game in front of our fans on Stafford Bridge.
00:59 I think we need to take advantage of playing on Stafford Bridge with all the energy that is going to translate to our fans.
01:05 Do you sense the players are hurting a little bit from the first leg?
01:09 Do you sense they're embracing this pressure?
01:11 I think it's, of course, we feel very disappointed after the game.
01:17 Because I think when you analyse the game, we deserve more.
01:20 But football sometimes is not a service.
01:22 To be clinical, to be aggressive, to score goals and to defend in some action that the opponent is going to force you to defend close to your goal.
01:31 Is to be strong and to be also in a good shape.
01:37 And I think we were all disappointed, but we have 90 minutes to fix the situation and try to win.
01:45 We need to respect because we are going to respect the opponent.
01:48 They are going to be tough.
01:49 But I think it's a massive chance for us to have the possibility to go to the final and to fight for a title.
01:56 Has Christopher Nkunku got any chance of playing in the game?
01:59 No, no, he's not available for tomorrow.
02:03 It's a shame, but he's still recovering.
02:05 Hope as soon as possible he can be ready again to help the team.
02:09 What is the problem with him? Is there something worse that he's doing?
02:13 No, he was like always happen, no? With a long-term injury, always after to find the balance is the most difficult thing.
02:21 And he suffered a little in his hip, some problem there.
02:28 And now he's recovering, but it's not a big issue. It's only that it's the possibility to be again available for the club.
02:39 But it's not a big issue.
02:41 There's been a lot of speculation recently around the future of Amanda Broya.
02:45 I just wonder, is there any chance he could move on before the end of the week?
02:50 At the moment, no news.
02:51 At the moment, we cannot update in any way.
02:56 I think it's also quiet and I think it's a good thing because we are working really well and we're not surprised at the moment.
03:05 Will you make any signings this month?
03:07 No update, nothing because it's in the same direction and the same way.
03:14 You know that you asked me about a player that maybe can leave.
03:19 There's no news about a player that can come in.
03:22 Hi Monsieur, a couple of young players, Diego Morera, Cesare Pasadena, have come back to Chelsea in the last few days.
03:32 You worked with them in pre-season. Are they in your plans at all for the rest of the season?
03:38 Yes, both we need to assess now. I think both come back from the loan.
03:43 I think good potential. Yes, I think they are going to be part of our squad and then the decision is going to be if they are going to be every week or every single game part of the team.
03:59 But I think it's good news because we were suffering too many injuries and I think to recover players from loan is important for us.
04:08 What was the feeling about Kassaday's time at Leicester?
04:12 I think it was fantastic. He was doing really well.
04:16 But no surprises because I think in the pre-season he was really, really well.
04:20 He was one of the players that we suffered a little bit to allow him to go.
04:25 And then, yes, hope that can help.
04:30 It's true that tomorrow is not possible because already he played with Leicester in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup also.
04:39 So, the fourth Friday is not available too.
04:43 But yes, in the Premier League maybe he can be involved and be part of the squad.
04:48 Thank you. Any more for the broadcast section? No? OK. Cameras off, please.