Football pundit Chris Sutton has offered advice to Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, suggesting that success in cup competitions could play a crucial role in reviving the club’s season, particularly following a somewhat underwhelming performance in the league so far.
Coming off a convincing 6-2 aggregate victory over Middlesbrough, securing a spot in the Carabao Cup final, Chelsea is gearing up for another cup challenge against Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge on Friday night.
While Unai Emery’s team has had a commendable Premier League season, currently holding fourth place with hopes of Champions League qualification in 2024/25, Villa sits comfortably 12 points ahead of Chelsea in ninth position.
Despite optimism for Pochettino’s squad to compete for European places, possibly challenging for Champions League positions, Sutton believes the team should shift their complete focus to cup competitions.
Sutton stated, “The cups offer a way for Chelsea to save their season, and they are already in the final of the Carabao Cup after beating Middlesbrough.” While recognizing improvement in Pochettino’s side, it hasn’t reached the anticipated meteoric rise.
Emphasizing the upcoming clash against Villa, Sutton stressed the importance for Chelsea to give their all in the game.
Acknowledging Villa’s excellent season, he expressed uncertainty about how Unai Emery’s approach might impact the match.
Recalling the only previous encounter between the two teams this season, where Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat in September with Malo Gusto receiving a red card and Ollie Watkins scoring the decisive goal, Sutton admitted occasional misjudgments about Chelsea’s performances this season.
Nevertheless, he leans towards Chelsea edging the upcoming encounter.
