by Chelsea will have to overcome the curse of Wembley to win their first domestic trophy since 2018 after booking a place in the Carabao Cup final with Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva admitting they have “unfinished business” at the national stadium.
Chilwell and Silva are yet to win a domestic trophy at Chelsea, with the club losing three Wembley finals during their time at Stamford Bridge and the club losing their last six attempts to win silverware under the famous arch, stretching back until 2018.
In particular, Chelsea’s last two wins at Wembley, in which Silva played, came two years ago against Liverpool, who booked another final date with the club by beating Fulham. Chilwell missed those games, but, along with the Brazilian, was part of the 2021 FA Cup final against his former club Leicester City.
Before beating Leicester, Chelsea lost to Arsenal in the 2020 FA Cup final and were beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final the previous season, having also lost to Pep Guardiola’s side in the 2018 People’s Shield.
Chelsea’s last success at Wembley came in May 2018, when Antonio Conte’s side won the FA Cup by beating Manchester United in the final. Mauricio Pochettino ironically lost his only Wembley final as Chelsea manager to Tottenham Hotspur in the 2015 League Cup.
Chilwell and Silva were unchanged even after they booked their place in another Wembley final by beating Middlesbrough in the second leg of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final this week before their records came under scrutiny improve lost self.
Speaking of their time at the club, Chilwell said: “We’ve lost three finals, so 100 per cent there’s unfinished business.
“I was talking to Thiago in the shower [after the Middlesbrough game] and saying how we have unfinished business at Wembley. We’ve both been there three times and Chelsea have lost three times, so, of course, we want to go and win.”
Silva added: “Now we have another final at Wembley. If I’m not mistaken, the three times I went there, I lost all three. So I guess it’s time to win, right?”
James’ return date is still unclear
Chelsea captain Reece James is not expected to return to fitness in time for the Carabao Cup final on February 25, but he also knows the importance of trying to end the Wembley hoodoos, having played in the club’s last four wins.
In his official program notes for Middlesbrough’s second semi-final, James wrote: “Getting to the finals isn’t really an achievement in itself – we’ve reached the finals before and won the silver medal, which you don’t want. at the end of cup run. We believe we have everything it takes to progress to the final and then go all the way.”
Apart from Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr, who are available for transfer and have not played this season, Chilwell, Silva and James are the only remaining members of the Chelsea squad to have played any part in any of the three Wembley finals passed by
All three played in the 2021 Champions League and Chilwell believes the Carabao Cup final will provide vital experience for a number of Chelsea’s young players.
“As a group, we’ve got to make sure we go and really enjoy the experience and take it,” Chilwell said. “It’s just as important for a group like us because we only have a few trophy winners at Chelsea and it’s a club that demands trophies, so we have to make sure we get the win. But, also, it’s going to be a great experience for a lot of players and they have to enjoy it too.”
Chilwell is keen to show leadership qualities
As Chelsea’s vice-captain while James recovers from hamstring surgery, Chilwell is on course to lead Chelsea out at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final. The left-back revealed how his leadership role helped his comeback after starting his first game since September against Middlesbrough.
“I had a chat with the manager a few days after I was injured and I said, ‘Now that I’m injured and I can’t help on the pitch, how do you want me to help her?’ How can I use my brain in other ways to motivate myself and help the team in other ways?’ Chilwell said.
“It was more of that leadership role, making sure I’m in meetings, making sure I’m talking, making sure I’m helping the young guys because, obviously, for some of them it’s it’s a big step forward. to come to Chelsea and play in front of, well, demanding fans who want us to win because they’re so used to that. So, he was just trying to help out as much as possible when I was hurt.
“It’s difficult, of course, you want to play football. I’ve missed some great football games, some games I would have loved to have been a part of, but it’s important to make sure when I come back I’m ready and mentally and physically in the game. the best shape I can be in to help the team.
“I felt really good and I’m dying to be back. The armband was on, the stadium was rocking. I had a wonderful reception, as I always do when I come here. I love playing at Stamford Bridge, the fans are always so nice to me and I’m looking forward to Wembley.”
