Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is confident the club’s Academy stars can rise to the challenge when handed a chance to impress in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon.
Pochettino is set to fully utilise all the options at his disposal for the visit of the Sky Bet League Two side, looking to manage the workload on a squad which is already depleted by injury.
Forward Mason Burstow, midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu and Noni Madueke have all come off the bench in the Premier League this season so could be handed a start, while Diego Moreira and defender Bashir Humphreys may also be involved.
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Whatever side he selects, Pochettino has no doubt the talented teenagers will have what it takes to make the step up.
“We are thinking to start with 11 players that can perform in the way that we want,” Pochettino told a press conference.
“(We want to be) right in our assessment, in our risk because you have many injuries and the squad is not big at the moment.
“We are going to use four or five young guys from the academy – 17 years old, 16 years old – but Chelsea has always produced good talent, young kids and now is a good opportunity.
“It is not because it is our philosophy at the moment, it is because we need to bring young guys to the first team because we have some players that cannot play tomorrow.
“But I think it should be good to create the possibility for the young guys to be part of the project, part of producing players for the first team because the Academy and the coaches there are working so hard.
“For a club like Chelsea, it is always good to have players from the Academy that can translate the identity of the club.”
Pochettino refused to be drawn on continued transfer speculation, with defender Marc Cucurella reportedly subject of interest from Manchester United.
“I cannot talk about supposition or rumours. For tomorrow he (Cucurella) is going to be able to play,” the Chelsea boss said.
“The club did not communicate (anything else) to me. All of the players that are in our squad are in our plans even if they didn’t play at the moment.”
With Chelsea not involved in European football this season, Pochettino intends to focus on just one thing – winning matches, whatever the competition.
“I want to win the Carabao Cup, I want to win the FA Cup and I want to win the Premier League, then we will see what happens after,” the former Tottenham boss said.
“Even if we are involved in the next few years in the Champions League or different European competitions – every single one is going to be a challenge for us and an opportunity to win.”
Chelsea, who beat Luton on Friday night for a first Premier League win of the new season, have agreed a season-long loan deal with Roma for Romelu Lukaku.
The Blues have already spent around £350million on new arrivals during the transfer window and have been linked with bringing in at least one more attacking player – with Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe reportedly on the radar.
Pochettino said: “I know very well that the club is working very hard to try and finish our business with still a few days, so I think that will happen, maybe yes (another player).
“At the moment, we are working to try and deliver what we want, but there is nothing to communicate at the moment.”
Pochettino added: “If we had someone who can maybe improve different positions, of course they are welcome, but I am happy with how we are now.”
Matheus Nunes will not be involved in Wolves’ Carabao Cup tie at home to Blackpool on Tuesday after he stopped training with the club in an effort to force through a move to Manchester City.
Premier League champions City stepped up their pursuit of Nunes after cooling their interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, and had a bid of 55million euros (£47m) rejected last week for the Portuguese attacker.
While Wolves have not received any fresh bids from City, Nunes has now stopped training with Gary O’Neil’s side, the PA news agency understands.
The 25-year-old, who joined from Sporting Lisbon last summer in a deal worth £42m, was absent for Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Everton and will again be missing from the squad for the upcoming second-round cup tie at Molineux.
Nunes will face disciplinary action for his decision to stop training, but could be integrated back into the squad if no move occurs before the summer transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday.
Head coach O’Neil will also be without Hwang Hee-chan for the clash with Blackpool, who are 15th in Sky Bet League One, due to a hamstring issue.
Austria forward Sasa Kalajdzic scored a late winner at Everton in what was only his third Wolves appearance in a year after suffering a rupture to his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut last September.
But O’Neil, who took charge earlier this month, remains cautious over Kalajdzic’s involvement and says his role will remain limited as he builds his way back to full fitness.
He said: “He is obviously still on a journey, getting back to full fitness. He is not one you can play for 90 minutes week in, week out at this moment.
“It is hard to assess when you come in new. You just see him training and everyone tells you he has been out for a while.
“You just try to judge him at that moment against the rest of that group and the ones he is competing with for a starting place.
“He looked a little bit behind the others, sharpness and fitness-wise, but I obviously don’t have a clear picture in my mind of what he is like when he is full throttle either.
“He understands where he needs to improve and that he needs extra time on the grass and we need to keep working.
“But he also understands he can have a big impact on football matches still.”
Matheus Nunes will not be involved in Wolves’ Carabao Cup tie at home to Blackpool on Tuesday after he stopped training with the club in an effort to force through a move to Manchester City.
Premier League champions City stepped up their pursuit of Nunes after cooling their interest in West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, and had a bid of 55million euros (£47m) rejected last week for the Portuguese attacker.
While Wolves have not received any fresh bids from City, Nunes has now stopped training with Gary O’Neil’s side, the PA news agency understands.
The 25-year-old, who joined from Sporting Lisbon last summer in a deal worth £42m, was absent for Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Everton and will again be missing from the squad for the upcoming second-round cup tie at Molineux.
Nunes will face disciplinary action for his decision to stop training, but could be integrated back into the squad if no move occurs before the summer transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday.
Head coach O’Neil will also be without Hwang Hee-chan for the clash with Blackpool, who are 15th in Sky Bet League One, due to a hamstring issue.
Austria forward Sasa Kalajdzic scored a late winner at Everton in what was only his third Wolves appearance in a year after suffering a rupture to his anterior cruciate ligament on his debut last September.
But O’Neil, who took charge earlier this month, remains cautious over Kalajdzic’s involvement and says his role will remain limited as he builds his way back to full fitness.
He said: “He is obviously still on a journey, getting back to full fitness. He is not one you can play for 90 minutes week in, week out at this moment.
“It is hard to assess when you come in new. You just see him training and everyone tells you he has been out for a while.
“You just try to judge him at that moment against the rest of that group and the ones he is competing with for a starting place.
“He looked a little bit behind the others, sharpness and fitness-wise, but I obviously don’t have a clear picture in my mind of what he is like when he is full throttle either.
“He understands where he needs to improve and that he needs extra time on the grass and we need to keep working.
“But he also understands he can have a big impact on football matches still.”
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Giovani Lo Celso will feature in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Fulham, but the door appears closed on any Tanguy Ndombele comeback.
Lo Celso and Ndombele both signed for Spurs in big-money moves during the summer of 2019, but have spent the majority of the last four years out on loan.
Postecoglou’s June arrival provided everyone with a clean slate and, while Lo Celso came off the bench at Bournemouth on Saturday to make his first competitive Tottenham appearance in 18 months, Ndombele is in a different boat.
Ndombele is part of a group alongside five other first-teamers who have not featured in any of the Australian’s three matchday squads and they could all leave the club before the summer transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday.
“Gio’s been a bit unlucky. He did well when he came on for us. I thought all the subs did really well just to help us control the game,” Postecoglou reflected.
“We’ve got a game Tuesday night and he’ll play. It will be, for want of a better word, a fun week. We’ve got plenty going on for sure.
“I’m just dealing with what’s in front of me. Unless I get told otherwise, I’ll work with the group I’ve got and focus on Tuesday night.”
Ex-Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, Djed Spence, Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon are the players alongside Ndombele who have yet to be involved this season.
Tottenham are eager to find new homes either permanently or temporarily for the six players given the club currently have a squad of 31 aged 21 or over.
Spurs must submit a list of 25 players to the Premier League on September 13 for the first half of the season and everything points towards Ndombele being elsewhere by that point.
Asked specifically about Ndombele, Postecoglou admitted: “Tanguy is in a boat with a few other guys. I said the other day that we’ve got five or six players more than we can name on a list.
“All these things come down to decisions that people make, whether it’s individual players, whether it’s myself.
“I’m sure this week those kind of things will work themselves out. Tanguy’s still training, he’s working hard at training, but that midfield area, we’re going really well at the minute.
“You saw the guys who started, (Oliver) Skippy’s been really good, Pierre (Hojbjerg) and Gio have been training well.
“It’s been pretty competitive in that area. I think this week a lot of those things I expect to get resolved.”
Postecoglou could line-up with a midfield three of Skipp, Hojbjerg and Lo Celso at Fulham, but he is not expected to make wholesale changes.
View this post on InstagramGuglielmo Vicario may still feature in goal while captain Son Heung-min and Richarlison are likely to play up front.
Richarlison will be desperate to score after three games without a goal and will face old boss Marco Silva but Postecoglou scoffed at the notion of trying to play the Brazilian into form.
“No, I pick teams that I think will win games,” he said.
“I will put Richy in the team because I think we can win the game with him in the team, not because I am trying to get him into a certain space.
“We want to win games of football and we want to play the game a certain way. Every time I pick a team that is all that’s in my head.
“I love winning. I don’t care if it is a cup competition, playing in the car park or on a rooftop. We just need to go out there and try to win.”
Norwich boss David Wagner urged Norwich matchwinner Jonathan Rowe not to get carried away after his Carabao Cup first-round winner at QPR.
Rowe’s header in the final seconds at Loftus Road secured a 1-0 victory and an away tie against Bristol City in the second round.
The 20-year-old has scored in all three of the Canaries’ games this season and his manager has challenged him to keep improving.
Wagner said: “It’s great that he scores goals and great for him as an individual.
“If you work hard you will get your rewards and this is what Johnny has done.
“He’s a talent but he has a lot of work to do – keep the feet on the ground and make sure you work hard and continue what you are doing.
“We will support him but we will challenge him as well.”
The game produced very few clear-cut openings before a late Norwich flurry, with Ashley Barnes missing a great chance for the Canaries before Rowe netted.
“I think it was a deserved win and that we were the better team – the team which really chased for the win,” Wagner added.
“It was not a top performance but as the game went on I thought we created opportunities without being clinical in the final third.”
QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth was encouraged by the performance of his young players.
Both managers made several changes and Ainsworth brought on academy products Alexander Aoraha and Rayan Kolli in the second half for their senior debuts.
Ainsworth said: “I got what I needed tonight and that was seeing the commitment and the standard of the players that haven’t been playing.
“We had players on the pitch from the academy during the game and two debutants at the end who are playing against players who have been sold for millions.
“So I’m really proud of the boys, but it is gutting to lose the goal at the end. The boys didn’t deserve that. Gutted but very proud.
“It’s cruel but it’s a lesson for some of our young boys, and the future looks quite rosy here.”
Jonathan Rowe’s goal in the final seconds gave Norwich a 1-0 win at QPR and a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
As the tie appeared to be heading for a penalty shoot-out, Rowe headed home Kellen Fisher’s cross for his third goal is as many games.
The game produced very few clear-cut chances before a late Norwich flurry.
Canaries substitute Ashley Barnes missed a great chance when he sent a free header wide of the target.
Rangers keeper Joe Walsh was then called into action, saving with his legs to deny Gabriel Sara, and City went close again when Przemyslaw Placheta fired narrowly wide.
QPR’s best opportunity fell to Lyndon Dykes, who was unable to react quickly enough after Albert Adomah’s cross had been headed down by Elijah Dixon-Bonner.
Scotland striker Dykes went off in obvious discomfort shortly after the hour mark having appeared to pick a knee injury – a concern for the R’s given their lack of attacking options.
The Canaries will be away to Bristol City in the next round.
Cardiff manager Erol Bulut felt his team should have put away League Two Colchester long before requiring a penalty shoot-out to advance to the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Bulut presided over his first home match as Bluebirds manager since taking over earlier this summer but saw his side squander a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 before advancing 3-0 on penalties.
“We could have scored four or five with the chances we created but we made individual mistakes,” said Bulut.
“The youngsters did quite well and generally I was satisfied with the way we kept the ball. But we have to get better, we have to continue to work.”
A smart finish by Welsh international Rubin Colwill put the home side ahead in the 19th minute and it was 2-0 10 minutes before the break when Kion Etete pounced to fire home a loose ball.
But lethargic defensive lapses allowed the visitors to haul themselves level before half-time, as two close-range tap-ins in the 40th and 44th minutes by forwards John Akinde and Joe Taylor changed the complexion.
Bulut offered qualified praise of Colwill, who saw his penalty saved after opening the scoring.
“Rubin is a good young player who has to learn more things,” he said. “I hope he continues like this and he will then get his chance to prove himself.
“I see Rubin playing as a number 10 mostly but sometimes he forgets his defensive duties.
“He is now keeping his position much better instead of running everywhere.”
No representatives from Colchester were available to speak after the game.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke needed to make half-time adjustments to avoid a Carabao Cup upset as his side edged past League One Shrewsbury 2-1 to give him his first win in charge.
The Championship side, who play at Salford in the second round, hit back through goals from Joe Gelhardt and Pascal Struijk after trailing at the break at Elland Road.
And Farke said: “I didn’t like our first-half performance. Our structure was not good in order to open them up.
“We made a few changes in personnel (at half-time) and also talked about tactical changes in the second half.
“We were much tidier on the ball and it was a much better performance.
“If we had scored a third it would have made life easier.”
Farke had made six changes following the 2-2 home draw against Cardiff on Sunday and added: “Tonight I had to make some big decisions.”
One player absent was forward Wilfried Gnonto, who reportedly asked to be left out because he wants a move away from the club.
Farke said the Italian “was not available” but was not injured.
Leeds trailed to Taylor Perry’s deflected first-half opener but were level seven minutes into the second half as Gelhardt directed the ball into the net off his thigh and Struijk volleyed home shortly after.
Shrewsbury head coach Matt Taylor praised his players for their effort.
He said: “They gave everything, we couldn’t ask for any more.
“If the players keep giving performances like they did tonight, then we will reap the rewards.
“I thought we were diligent outside of possession, I thought the goal that we scored was excellent and it came from stuff we’ve worked on earlier in the week.
“I felt that the goals we gave away were avoidable. It’s an element of luck with the first one. (The) second one I felt we should’ve dealt with better.”
Ipswich assistant manager Martyn Pert was delighted with the performance from a changed team in a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol Rovers.
The goals came from Jack Taylor and Sone Aluko to confirm the Tractor Boys’ progress to the second round where they have been drawn against Reading.
The visitors had their chances and Ipswich goalkeeper Cieran Slicker helped to keep a clean sheet for Town when he stuck out a foot to deflect a shot from Jevani Brown.
Pert said: “We changed the whole team and it shows the level that the lads have been working at for the last six weeks that they can work and understand the structure and everything we want and they can go and deliver the performance like that.
“So very pleasing and it was a good night. A lot of the players have been here a while and understand the way we play.”
Asked about goalkeeper Slicker, Pert said: “He is a confident lad, his qualities suit the way we play, he is a good young goalkeeper.”
Bristol Rovers’ first-team coach Andy Mangan said: “There were so many positives, we’ve just got to be better in certain areas on the counter mentality wise.
“When Ipswich have got the ball our shape was difficult to break down and our lads have got to trust the process and be confident in those situations but all in all a positive performance.
“I think we had more chances in the first period of the second half and like I said we just have to better in those moments.”
Nigel Pearson confirmed Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott was speaking to Bournemouth after seeing his side reach the Carabao Cup second round.
The Robins thrashed Oxford 5-1 thanks to Jason Knight’s brace and goals from Harry Cornick, Nahki Wells and Kal Naismith.
Afterwards Pearson was asked to comment on reports that Scott had undergone a medical at Premier League club Bournemouth prior to big-money move.
He said: “The club has given Alex permission for that and I really don’t have anything more to say on it.”
Pressed on whether he had been planning without Scott for the campaign, Pearson added: “No, I have been planning to keep him.
“It’s nothing to do with me, it’s a club decision.
“I’m disappointed because we have a better chance of being successful if we keep our best players.”
On the game, which saw Billy Bodin equalise for Oxford before Knight’s double either side of half-time put City in charge, Pearson said: “I’m delighted for the players.
“One difference from our opening league match on Saturday was that our full-backs were more positive in getting forward.
“The scoreline sounds comprehensive, but Oxford were always in the game and caused us some problems.
“We were able to penetrate down the flanks and got in plenty of crosses, which wasn’t the case on Saturday.
“It’s always nice to blood young players and we were able to send on Ephraim Yeboah at a good time in the game for him. The hard work starts for Ephraim now.”
Oxford manager Liam Manning did not attend the post-match press conference.
Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson praised the structure of his side after Ryan McLean’s late strike saw the League Two team down Coventry and reach round two of the EFL Cup.
Championship Coventry were ahead inside 20 minutes, Matty Godden converting from the spot after Joe Lewis chopped down Haji Wright in the box.
And that had looked enough to claim victory, until two late strikes from the Dons turned the contest on its head, Omar Bugiel with the equaliser before McLean’s winner.
“It’s early days, obviously, but any successful team has that base of solidity and defensive structure and I think we looked like that,” said Jackson.
“Coventry had their moments – they’ve got quality players – but if we want to do anything, you got to have that base.
“We’re trying to build a squad where you’ve got competition for places and you’ve got people that are tough to leave out.
“But, when you’re looking behind you to make changes, you know they’re going to come on and have a positive influence on the game.”
Meanwhile, Sky Blues boss Mark Robins rued silly mistakes as his makeshift side snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
He added: “I don’t think we deserved anything – we could have won if we’d done things right, but we didn’t.
“We didn’t pick the right passes out, we went too long at times and it was just unlike us. Really, they should have been a couple of goals up before the penalty, so we’re a little bit lucky coming in 1-0 up.
“So we speak about that at half time and how we can be better and we end up looking poor in the second half too.
“It’s a new team so I’ve got to be careful what I say; I’m making substitutions for physical reasons rather than tactical reasons at the moment because I’m trying to get everyone fit.”
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca was more than satisfied as his side ensured comfortable passage to round two of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory over League One Burton.
Kelechi Iheanacho grabbed his chance in the starting line-up with the opening goal after six minutes before assisting Wilfred Ndidi with Leicester’s second in first-half stoppage-time.
“It had the potential to be difficult for us but we started really well with the first goal,” said Maresca.
“Then it got a bit more complicated as they changed and made it harder for us and we had to find solutions.
“In the end we are very happy because we continue improving with the ideas we are trying to get across and that is important. What we are looking for is very clear, even in the previous game.”
Iheanacho replaced Jamie Vardy in the side for the game and impressed his new manager.
“Kelechi was really good scoring and assisting one and then second half he moved inside a bit more but he was one of many players who were really good tonight,” he added.
Burton boss Dino Maamria was frustrated that his side’s game-plan to frustrate their Championship opponents was blown out of the water by conceding so early.
“Our intention in the first half was to block them in and press them to stop their rhythm and we have ended up doing the complete opposite in those first six minutes conceding that goal,” he said.
“We gave them too much respect and that is not us.
“Second half was a much better performance where we were more compact and we had a couple of good chances to get a goal and it is a shame we didn’t get that goal that we deserved.”
Championship Cardiff needed a penalty shoot-out to get past League Two Colchester in the Carabao Cup first round.
Bluebirds goalkeeper Jak Alnwick saved Colchester’s first three attempts from 12 yards, thwarting Jayden Fevrier, Junior Tchamadeu and Tom Hopper after a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
It meant successful penalties from Cardiff’s Mahlon Romeo, Sheyi Ojo and Ike Ugbo were enough after their side’s first effort from Rubin Colwill had been saved.
A smart finish by Welsh international Colwill put the home side ahead in the 19th minute.
It was 2-0 10 minutes before the break when Colchester goalkeeper Owen Goodman spilled a shot by Cardiff winger Ollie Tanner, and Kion Etete pounced to fire home the loose ball.
But lethargic defensive lapses allowed the visitors to haul themselves level before half-time, as two close-range tap-ins in the 40th and 44th minutes by forwards John Akinde and Joe Taylor changed the complexion.
Expectations Cardiff would reassert themselves after the break were misplaced and the League Two side more than contributed to an evenly matched affair.
Colchester substitute Samson Tovide was shown a red card in the 89th minute for a boot to the head of Bluebirds left-back Jamilu Collins but his side held out for the seven minutes of added time.
Ryan McLean’s injury-time strike completed a remarkable turnaround for AFC Wimbledon as they stunned Championship visitors Coventry 2-1.
Mark Robins’ side enjoyed plenty of the ball in south London and deservedly led through a Matty Godden penalty.
Despite creating a number of excellent opportunities, they were dealt two sucker punches right at the death, Omar Bugiel lashing home an equaliser four minutes from time, before McLean’s calm finish sent Plough Lane into raptures.
They should have been ahead within 90 seconds, however, James Tilley inexplicably side-footing wide from eight yards having been found by the weaving Aron Sasu.
Godden and the busy Tatsuhiro Sakamoto were then denied in quick succession by Nik Tzanev in the Dons goal, before Joe Lewis chopped down Haji Wright – Godden making no mistake.
Godden, Gustavo Hamer and Jake Bidwell continued to work the Wimbledon keeper, though the pick was a brilliant reaction save from less than a yard from Ellis Simms.
And just as it seemed Coventry had got away with their profligacy, Johnnie Jackson’s men turned the tie around.
McLean’s cross was met perfectly by Bugiel, striking home having timed his run into the penalty area superbly, with McLean himself showing coolness of mind to turn in a cross deep into added-on time; a remarkable way in which to score his first goal in professional football.
First-half goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi eased Leicester to a 2-0 victory and into the second round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Burton.
On a relatively trouble-free night for new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, the Foxes quickly got the game under control with Iheanacho taking just six minutes to breach the Brewers defence with a calmly taken side-foot effort into the corner of the goal, converting skipper Marc Albrighton’s cross.
Leicester dominated possession but Albion provided stubborn resistance and as the half wore on the hosts grew into the game, with debutant Ryan Sweeney seeing a header frantically cleared away from danger.
City then doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time, Ndidi finding the top corner after Iheanacho had raced clear and set him up.
Iheanacho almost grabbed his second two minutes into the second half but was denied by a good save from Jamal Blackman as Leicester looked to put the game firmly beyond the League One side.
Wanya Marcal-Madivadua and Harry Winks also went close to a third for Leicester before the hour mark.
Burton almost set up a potentially nervy ending through substitute Josh Gordon but his effort curled narrowly wide of Jakub Stolarczyk’s post.
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