The English Football League Cup is at stake in Sunday’s match between Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino of Chelsea.



With <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/liverpool-contacted-klopps-possible-successor-in-november-20240207-WST-488151.html">Jurgen Klopp</a> at the helm for one last time, the Reds have booked a Wembley date after defeating Bournemouth, Fulham, West Ham, Leicester, and Fulham. This may be the first step toward <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a>, FA Cup, and Europa League success.



Meanwhile, because they don’t play in Europe, Chelsea had to play an additional match more than Liverpool did. However, the Blues were still able to reach Wembley after defeating Wimbledon, Brighton, Newcastle, Blackburn, and Middlesbrough.



Even though Klopp’s squad is without several key players ahead of their trip to Wembley, many still consider Liverpool to be the favorites. Thus, the German boss will be aiming for his seventh trophy since moving to Anfield in 2015.



On the other hand, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/pochettino-admits-his-job-is-in-jeopardy-at-chelsea-20240205-WST-487726.html">Mauricio Pochettino</a> will be seeking to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/league-cup-tv-schedule/">clinch his first</a> since becoming Chelsea’s leader. 



The Argentine manager is under pressure to turn things around after his side’s poor performance in the Premier League this year. Meanwhile, the fact that this is Klopp’s last season with the Reds makes it all the more memorable.



<h2>Pochettino comments on previous referees</h2>



Because of the emotional nature of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell to Liverpool, Mauricio Pochettino has asked referee Chris Kavanagh and his staff to be “fair” to Chelsea.



Following Klopp’s announcement of his leaving, Liverpool’s first Premier League opponent at Anfield following his departure was Pochettino’s Chelsea. Pochettino is still irate with the referees since his London team was refused two penalties, even though they lost 4-1.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="409" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/16045052/image-9-439x409.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-491530" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure></div><figcaption>Pochettino is attempting to play mind games ahead of the Carabao Cup Final</figcaption></figure>



In response to the question of whether Klopp and Liverpool are under any additional pressure to win a title before he goes, the Blues boss said: “Good question. It is not pressure for him. No. Maybe it is for the people who want to celebrate with Liverpool.



“I think we need to be sure we are going to compete and be fair in every single decision. When we played against Liverpool at Anfield, I think too many decisions … not one key decision was for us. Two penalties were not given. Duels, 50-50s, always for another colour. Always red. I want to be treated in a fair way.



“Of course, we are going to celebrate. I am the first who is going to say that Liverpool is amazing and <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/managers/5119/J%C3%BCrgen-Klopp/overview" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Klopp</a> is one of the best coaches in the world. But I think after my last experience playing there, what I want in Wembley is to go there and not feel the pressure. It is to play a game at the same level and the best team will win. But not to feel the pressure of people around.”



<h2>Additional motivation to beat Klopp?</h2>



“They were better than us [at Anfield], of course. But the first decision after five minutes was a clear penalty. In the second half it was a penalty, [Christopher] Nkunku. We are Chelsea and we need to compete with the same tools.



“If they are better well done and we congratulate them, but be fair in every single decision. The pressure is about not delivering the job for Klopp, no, the pressure is not to be part of the … you know?”



In addition, Pochettino dismissed the idea that ruining Liverpool’s celebration for Klopp would serve as a further incentive: “No, no, We want to win because of Chelsea. But of course, Liverpool want to win. But please, not another party involved in the game will be part of the celebration that Klopp is leaving, no? That is important.”



Photo credit: IMAGO / PRiME Media Images.

EFL Cup: Pochettino asks referee impartiality in Klopp clash

The English Football League Cup is at stake in Sunday's match between Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Mauricio Pochettino of Chelsea.

EFL Cup: Pochettino asks referee impartiality in Klopp clash - World Soccer Talk

<a href="http://www.bundesligatalk.com/the-new-gaffer-introducing-klopp-at-borussia-dortmund/25/jurgen-klopp-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-29" title="Jürgen Klopp"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://www.bundesligatalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/klopp1.jpg" alt="Jürgen Klopp" align="right" height="242" hspace="15" vspace="15" width="351"></figure></div></a>Continuing our series introducing the Bundesliga’s newest gaffers is Jürgen Klopp now with Borussia Dortmund. For those of you at home wondering why Klopp was chosen to follow Klinsmann wonder no more. Was it to juxtapose the long-serving Klopp with the journeyman Klinsmann? Was it because both were football commentators for the German public television channel ZDF (Klinsmann at the ’02 WC and Klopp for the ’06 WC and ’08 Euro Championships)? Was it because they both share the name Jürgen? Yes, actually. So, without further ado, the second manager in our series, Borussia Dortmund’s Jürgen Klopp who arrived from 1. FSV Mainz 05.
He first appeared as a player with Mainz in 1990 and over the next decade plus he played in 325 games, becoming the club’s all-time leader in appearances by the end of his career. His (interim) managerial debut found Mainz languishing in the relegation zone of the 2nd Bundesliga in February 2001. With 19 points from his first 7 games he successfully guided the team to safety (finishing 14th) and shedded his interim tag in the process. The next two seasons found the squad just miss out on promotion in what can only be called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu%C3%9Fball-Bundesliga_2000-01" target="_blank" title="Matchday 34 of the 2000/01 Bundesliga season">Schalke-esque aversion to success</a>. Things turned out much better the next year as Mainz were promoted and, more impressively, managed to stay up for an additional two years before being relegated once more. He exercised a clause in his contract that allowed him to move on after Mainz remained in the 2. Bundesliga last year. There is no doubt that had the club been promoted he’d still be managing them now. No one doubts his ability to get teams to punch above their weight. The question is how much of an improvement will his new job will actually be. Dortmund are in dire need of rescuing before they too find themselves relegated.
It’s hard to imagine that little more than a decade ago, in 1996/97, that Dortmund were kings of Europe and the world after victories over Juventus and Cruzerio. It is difficult to find a suitable comparison to how fast they fell in Europe after victory, except for perhaps Red Star Belgrade (a result of the Yugoslav civil war, no doubt). Paradoxically, their decline is intimately intertwined with their success. Flush with optimism and the perceived need to strengthen their squad to continue challenging for honors, Dortmund spent enormous sums(by Bundesliga standards) on bringing in new players. In order to facilitate these transfers Dortmund became the first (and only) club to float itself on the stock market. The club prides itself on firsts: the first European trophy in 1966 and the first Champions League win in 1997, so the decision to be publicly listed is not out of character in a way. Yet the business model that emerged was contingent on continued European success (or at least qualification) and foundered badly when this sole condition was not met.
Dortmund’s failure in Europe would consequently affect the team’s domestic performance, beginning a cycle of failure from which it has yet to escape. Since winning the league in 2001/02, Dortmund has steadily fallen in final table every year since (3rd, 6th, 7th, 7th, 9th bottoming out at 13th last season). As success and money become scarcer wages are cut which in turn provides another incentive for those players dissatisfied with the team’s performances to leave. Most Dortmund fans are unwillingly to accept their team’s current predicament and hunger for a return to glory. Yet over their 37 seasons in the Bundesliga, Dortmund’s average final table position is only 7th. The success of the 90s that the club and its fans seek to return to is, historically, an aberration. But as Jürgen Klopp showed with Mainz he can get a team to play above themselves, which is exactly what Dortmund need right now to begin challenging Bayern for league hegemony once more.
What do you think? Will Jürgen Klopp’s managerial acumen be enough turn around Dortmund’s fortunes? Or will structural deficiencies be too much to overcome before either Klopp or club become dissatisfied with the other?
Next week: Fred Rutten at Schalke 04

The New Gaffer: Introducing Klopp at Borussia Dortmund

The New Gaffer: Introducing Klopp at Borussia Dortmund - World Soccer Talk

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The New Gaffer: Introducing Klopp at Borussia Dortmund