| Date: Tuesday, 23 January Kick-off: 20:00 GMT |
| Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app |
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick says he is “expecting the very best version” of Chelsea when his side face the five-time winners in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.
The Championship side head to Stamford Bridge with a slender 1-0 lead from the home first leg.
Middlesbrough won the trophy for the only time in 2004 and Carrick said: “We got a big boost from the first game, but that’s as far as it goes.
“We know what we’re walking into.”
Boro last reached a major cup final when they finished runners-up in the 2005-06 Uefa Cup, and will be the first EFL side to make the Carabao Cup showpiece since Bradford City lost to Swansea in 2013.
A 1-1 draw with Rotherham left them 11th in the Championship and they have injury concerns. Full-back Isaiah Jones limped off in Saturday’s game with a hamstring issue, while midfielder Jonny Howson picked up a knock in training last week.
“We’re still assessing Jonny and Izzy, trying to give him as long as we can to maybe be ready and in and around the squad,” added Carrick who won the competition three times as a player with Manchester United.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves but, certainly from the first game, the boys have handled it very well and are looking forward to doing it again. We’re expecting the best version of Chelsea.”
‘Important game for the club’ – Pochettino
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino used his pre-match press conference to call on Blues supporters to help his side overturn their one-goal deficit.
The hosts are looking to reach their first major final since co-owner Todd Boehly completed his takeover in May 2022.
Chelsea recorded just three home wins across 11 months between January and November 2023 but have recently reversed that form and are on a three-game winning run in the Premier League.
“It’s a passport to the final, to visit Wembley,” said Pochettino. “It’s an important game for the club, for us, for everyone. We want to be in the final.
“But first of all we need to beat a very good team that, in the first leg, we could not beat.
“We’re confident we can have a very good game in front of our fans. We need to take advantage of playing at Stamford Bridge with all the energy that will translate from our fans.”
Chelsea currently have significant injury problems with Wesley Fofana, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Robert Sanchez and Lesley Ugochukwu all sidelined.
Striker Nicolas Jackson is also absent, representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Cesare Casadei, who was recalled early from his loan at Leicester, is cup-tied.
A major milestone in the Pochettino project
Alex Howell, BBC Sport
This week could be Mauricio Pochettino’s most important as Chelsea manager.
The match on Tuesday is the start of a vital four days which be a major boost to – or effectively be the end of – their season.
A result on Tuesday would allow those at Chelsea to point to progress and say they have made a cup final in Pochettino’s first season. If they went on to win the trophy, it would also mean qualifying for Europe – albeit the Europa Conference League.
They also have the FA Cup fourth-round tie against high-flying Aston Villa on Friday. If these two matches go Chelsea’s way it would maintain the positivity around the club.
Pochettino has repeated the message this season that “Chelsea’s history is to win” – but if they don’t start this week by beating Middlesbrough, that history will start to weigh heavy.
