Chelsea's early Carabao Cup exit, sealed by a penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool, may prove more costly than the club's new head coach Xabi Alonso suggests. History shows that winning the competition has frequently been a springboard to Premier League glory.
A Winning Habit That Pays Off
Alonso, after the fourth-round loss, called the cup "a small setback in this competition" and "probably the least important competition for us in the year." However, the record suggests otherwise. Chelsea's last Carabao Cup triumph in 2015, under Jose Mourinho, was followed three months later by the Premier League title. A decade earlier, Mourinho's first league title was preceded by a Carling Cup final win over Liverpool in Cardiff.
Since Chelsea's 2015 success, eight of the 12 finals have featured a team that finished in the Premier League's top two. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City dynasty began with a 2018 Carabao Cup win, starting a run of four straight Wembley victories and contributing to a domestic treble in 2019, a feat not achieved before or since.
Alonso's Gamble
Guardiola, the tournament's most successful manager, once recalled advice from Brian Kidd to ignore the cup, but noted its growing importance. He said: "Today, everyone and every team plays for win, win, win, and win."
Alonso's dismissal of the competition comes despite Chelsea being free of European fixtures and the FA Cup not yet underway, leaving his squad relatively fresh. The Blues have lost as many league games as Manchester United, sit fifth, and are eight points off the top after eight matches. They have not won a domestic honour since the 2018 FA Cup under Antonio Conte.
Progress Needed
With draws against Hull, a loss at Brentford, and a home defeat to Tottenham, Alonso faces a rebuilding job. His Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, breaking Bayern Munich's near-15-year monopoly, shows his pedigree. A trophy would have been a clear sign of progress for the club's hierarchy, making his casual dismissal of the Carabao Cup a point he may need to address.
