Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Chelsea host Middlesbrough in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
Chelsea 4-0 Middlesbrough (agg 4-1)
GOAL: Chelsea 4-0 Middlesbrough (agg 4-1) (Cole Palmer)
GOAL: Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough (agg 3-1) (Axel Disasi)
Gary Neville: ‘Staying with your midfield runner is so important’
Big moment in this game. They just played quite slowly, recycling it, Chelsea, but all of a sudden, there’s a little bit of pace brought into the attack down the right hand side with Sterling and Disasi. It’s that back heel. Clarke decides not to go across until late.
We talk so much about how Howson has gone in the box with Enzo Fernandez. The one moment that he had to be close to him… brilliant movement from Enzo Fernandez. He just darts towards that back post and in behind. Howson loses him for a split-second. Staying with your midfield runner is so important.
Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (agg 2-1)
GOAL: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (agg 2-1) (Enzo Fernandes)
Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough (agg 1-1)
Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough (agg 1-1)
GOAL: Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough (agg 1-1) (Jonny Howson – own goal)
‘Even with VAR that wouldn’t have been given as a penalty’
Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (agg 0-1)
Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (agg 0-1)
Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (agg 0-1)
Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (agg 0-1)
It’s a really important game for us. The first leg was difficult. Now we need to win the game. First of all, we need to respect our opponent.
[Lessons from first leg] That is the beauty of the cup. The first leg, we played better. But we conceded a goal we should not concede. We cannot afford to lose these types of game. The cup allows you a second chance and now we need to be clever.
Stamford Bridge pays tribute to Tommy Baldwin
‘We’re here to have a crack at them’
‘They’ve missed him a lot’
They’ve missed him a lot and they’ve missed Reece James a lot. We tend to talk about the fact that when they’re playing, Chelsea are a better team. It’s bad for the lad that he gets so many injuries because you feel like an imposter, you feel like you don’t belong.
When I watch Ben Chilwell play sometimes when he does come back, you always feel like an injury waiting to happen. He looks a bit pensive and a bit tentative. It must be getting to a point at Chelsea where you need reliability and consistency from your defenders. You can’t always be talking about when players come back. He’s got to try – and it sounds like the easiest thing in the world – to stay fit for a longer period. Mauricio Pochettino needs to build a team and a back four in particular.
Warm ups are underway!
‘It’s very important that Middlesbrough don’t sit back!’
It’s very important that Middlesbrough don’t sit back. They have to go out there thinking they have to score. If they don’t score and there’s ten minutes to go, then you readjust. But when you start the game, you need to have the mindset that you come here and at least score one goal and set up and be willing to go forward. They cannot just camp at their goal for 96 minutes.
Here come the Blues!
Pochettino calls Blues fans to be the 12th man
Some games the fans were very good. Other games it was a little bit flat. But it’s normal because we started the season with massive expectations.
It’s normal they can feel a little disappointed. But this is a semi-final with the possibility to go to Wembley. Our fans are going to be really motivated to help the team.
The team need to translate the good energy from the fans to be motivated. We need to send the first signal that we care, that we want to go to the final. We need to be ready to fight and not complain. If the fans see this energy, they will be behind us.
Chilwell back for the Blues!
‘The pressure is on Chelsea’
I think sometimes being the underdog does help because the pressure is on Chelsea, being at home especially and being the Premier League side. Whatever happens tonight we are proud of what we have done so far.
It would be absolutely massive [to win]. We’ve had a really frustrating season in the league. The players and the fans, it gives us a lot of confidence. But then in the league it has been so frustrating. We beat Chelsea, we went to Millwall and won 3-1 and then we draw 1-1 to Rotherham.”
‘They’re going to have to defend for their lives’
‘This is as proud as I’ve been’
This is as proud as I’ve been. I know what the players have put in, how close a group they are, seeing this stadium supporting the lads right to the end, it made me hugely proud.
It was a really good night, hopefully we can create some more of them in the future. The boys were immense. They were disclipled, tactically smart and showed some real quality and composure to play. Everyone, literally, had to perform and absolutely empty the tank.
(It’s only half-time) but the players should still celebrate and applaud their effort. They’ve got to embrace it now. I keep saying, the next leg is a totally different one, a new challenge. We are ready for it, looking forward to it, and will embrace the challenge.’
Chelsea starting XI
Middlesbrough starting XI
‘This is the biggest game of the season’
We need to be convincing to be able to win. It’s the possibility to play in and win a final. It’s a good pressure. I like this type of challenge. We want to be in that situation and play in semi-finals.
I think the game tomorrow is really important because it’s the possibility to win a trophy. In a personal way, I’m so excited for the game. It’s a way to play at Wembley, a final, and to have the possibility to win a title. I’m so motivated and I try to translate to the players how good it is to play a final and to play in Wembley.
And in the red corner…
Behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge…
The blues are in the house!
But can they upset the odds again?
Middlesbrough fans are in full voice at Trafalgar Square
Good evening!
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GOAL: Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough (agg 3-1) (Axel Disasi)
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GOAL: Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough (agg 2-1) (Enzo Fernandes)
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GOAL: Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough (agg 1-1) (Jonny Howson – own goal)
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Kick-off! Chelsea 0-0 Middlesbrough (agg 0-1)
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Stamford Bridge pays tribute to Tommy Baldwin
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‘We’re here to have a crack at them’
-
‘They’ve missed him a lot’
-
Pochettino calls Blues fans to be the 12th man
-
Chilwell back for the Blues!
-
‘The pressure is on Chelsea’
-
Chelsea starting XI
-
Middlesbrough starting XI
-
‘This is the biggest game of the season’
-
And in the red corner…
-
Behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge…
-
The blues are in the house!
-
But can they upset the odds again?
-
Middlesbrough fans are in full voice at Trafalgar Square
-
Good evening!
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