Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is pleased to see the Blues beat Tottenham Hotspurs to reach the Carabao Cup final in the wake of their 2-0 loss away to Arsenal last Saturday reports Completesports.com.
The Blues produced a superb display to win 2-1 on the night, before prevailing after winning 4-2 on spot-kicks to the delight of their Italian manager Sarri.
It was Chelsea’s first win over Tottenham in three meetings this season.
N’Golo Kante drew Chelsea level with a first-time shot from 20 yards through three pairs of legs after a corner before Eden Hazard doubled the lead for the Blues with an arrowed finish after being picked out by captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
Tottenham forced the tie into penalties when Fernando Llorente converted Danny Rose’s cross.
After regulation time Chelsea scored all four of their spot kicks through Willian, Azpilicueta, Jorginho and David Luiz while Tottenham missed two of their four kicks – Eric Dier, a World Cup penalty shootout hero for England in Russia, firing over the bar before Lucas Moura kick was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chriten Ericksen and Eric Lamela has previously converted their spot-kicks.
“I think that they reacted very well tonight,’ Sarri said in his post match interview.
“But I didn’t attack my players, I only said we had a problem. The reaction was very good but I think we need to have motivation with continuity now, but I was very happy with the performance before the penalties.”
“Of course it’s better because we will now play a final, a very difficult final but I was very happy with the performance. Also if there was a different outcome from the penalties (I would have been happy).”
“I think in the last three or four matches we had a problem, firstly motivation and then the players stopped to having fun on the pitch. Now with this performance and result we can once again find enthusiasm which is very important.”
“I think we have to think about the 180 minutes, the two matches. In two matches I think we deserved to win, and I think in this match we deserved to win without penalties.”
Having already beaten Pep Guardiola’s side this season, Chelsea will now face Manchester City in the Wembley final on Sunday 24 February
“If you say that I have never won anything at this level you are right, but I started in a professional team and now I’m in Chelsea, so in another way I won.”
“The most important game will be the next one at Bournemouth (next Wednesday). I’m happy because I will go to play a final at Wembley which is important for me, my players and the club, but now we must think about the next match in the FA Cup, and then the most dangerous one will be Bournemouth.”
Sarri also praised Emerson Palmeri for his impressive performance.
The Italian came in for Marcos Alonso at left-back and performed well.
“Emerson will stay with us, for sure. He’s very important. He’s improving.”
“Sometimes I had a little problem to put him in because we are not a very physical team so when we play with three little players in the same match, set-pieces could be a problem, but not for another reason. I’m very happy with him, he’s improving and he’s a very good player.”
Chelsea will turn their attention to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday when they entertain Championship side Sheffield Wednesday
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