Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping that this was the night that his Chelsea reign truly started. Just a third win in charge, managing his eighth game, and progression into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, a competition that already looks a lot like comfortably the best chance of silverware, and with that a spot in Europe.
Chelsea’s start to the league season – just one win in six and three defeats already – has left them not only numerically some way off the pace of the top four but also confidence-wise many are doubting the strength of this team. As they faced Brighton, a side that are 11 places above them in the 2023 annual table for the top division, there was genuine pressure.
So Nicolas Jackson’s winning goal in the second half and the rejuvenated team that fought the Seagulls, hands down a much more impressive and in-form side over a prolonged period – stretching back to around 18 months – is actually really big. It is not just the League Cup, it was Chelsea’s first win in any competition over opponents in the top half of the league since April 2022.
Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi now have a mini-rivalry brewing with the Blues. The transfer acts, online banter between supporters and the feeling of outdoing the big guns on the big stage were all there at SW6. Pochettino seemingly embraced the chaos with a team including four ex-Brighton players. It was a big night and a big result for him, here’s how it went down in the national media.
The Guardian
Jacob Steinberg writes: “When it finally arrived the goal could not have been more out of keeping with Chelsea’s recent attacking efforts. There was a deft assist from Cole Palmer, who impressed on his first start since joining from Manchester City, but what stood out, even more, was Nicolas Jackson casting the doubts aside, taking the ball on the run and finding the ruthlessness to send Brighton out of the third round of the Carabao Cup.
“Was this really Chelsea? It has not been easy to keep the faith with Mauricio Pochettino’s blunt side. Chelsea, who had gone three games without finding the back of the net, had felt the gloom deepening after losing to Aston Villa. There were even concerns that the men’s team would not be contributing any entries to the club’s goal of the month competition for September.
