Blues’ supporters’ labelled the 1-0 win for Jurgen Klopp’s much-weakened Reds as boss Pochettino‘s “most embarrassing result” ever.
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Virgil van Dijk headed the only goal near the end of extra time after the Dutch defender and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling had efforts ruled out.
And although both sides wasted gaping scoring opportunities, Blues’ fans were incredulous that a youthful Liverpool team missing big names like Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold came out on top.
One posted: “We lost to Liverpool’s reserves and bunch of teenagers. Poch deserves to be sacked. The passive, scared approach was pathetic. It was so Spursy.”
Many even called for the ex-Tottenham chief to be axed without delay following Chelsea’s sixth successive loss in a major final.
Typical responses included: “Poch should be sacked on the spot for losing that btw” and “Poch shouldn’t get to Cobham before he gets sacked”.
A third observer hit out: “Poch surely sacked before he leaves the stadium & relegates his stock in the future too. Most embarrassing result of his career.”
And with Stamford Bridge co-owner Todd Boehly getting such a terrible return for his huge investment so far, some supporters called for stern action typical of the American’s predecessor Roman Abramovich.
One claimed: “Roman would have sacked Poch at half time of extra time.”
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Many measured assessments of the whole match were just as withering for the Argentinian.
Such as: “We either didn’t have the stamina to play with intensity for the full 120, despite an 8 day break, or Pochettino set us up so timidly in extra time or failed to inspire the team.
“Either way, a damning indictment of him.”
But other fans sympathised with Poch – arguing in particular that he shouldn’t be blamed for terrible finishing.
One wrote: “Five big chances missed and it’s Pochettino’s fault, why is he always the scapegoat, you can’t teach players earning £200k a week how to shoot a ball. ”
Another hit out: “It was Poch that was missing those chances or (Conor) Gallagher? Coach can’t do it all. The players are awful too.”