‘What Chelsea were missing’… Pundit says Pochettino desperately needs someone like ‘outstanding’ Liverpool man

Add as preferred source on Google

Robbie Earle has suggested that the Carabao Cup final showed that Chelsea are desperately missing a player with the stature of Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool captain’s display at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side must be wondering what could have been on Sunday. Chelsea probably went into the final as underdogs against the Premier League leaders. However, by the end of the game, the Blues had a brilliant opportunity to get their hands on the trophy.

Jurgen Klopp threw on a number of younger players with his squad being stretched. And yet, in extra-time, it was Liverpool who were pushing for the winner.

And they got their rewards a few minutes from the end of the extended period, with Virgil van Dijk heading home from a corner.

Chelsea crying out for their own Virgil van Dijk

It was a real captain’s performance from the Dutchman. He needed some heroics from Caoimhin Kelleher and a brilliant display from others, including Ibrahima Konate. But it was no surprise to see van Dijk prove to be the match-winner.

And speaking on The 2 Robbies podcast, Robbie Earle suggested that the final made it abundantly clear how Chelsea are crying out for a leader like van Dijk.

“One other person that I want to mention, I think the captain today deserves a mention, Virgil van Dijk,” he said.

“There’s been some criticism after the injuries, is he the same player? Is he still the best in class in there? He’s played with Konate, he’s played with Gomez, he’s played with Matip, he’s played with Quansah, they all fitted in next to him. He looks like he’s enjoying the responsibility now and is driven with Klopp. Obviously, he’s got a great relationship with Jurgen Klopp. He’s driven for these trophies to make sure his manager goes off in the right way.

“I thought he was outstanding today. And not just the player, because I think we all know he’s a bit of a Rolls-Royce and he can do it, but I thought the personality and the character. And when I look at Chelsea, how they could do with a Virgil van Dijk in that group, how they could do with somebody of that stature. When they’re on top and the game is theirs to be won, pushes them on and they go and win it. That’s what Chelsea were missing.”

Blues lacked leadership on the big stage

Of course, targeting your own van Dijk is one thing, finding them is another. Even some of the Liverpool hierarchy could not have expected the centre-back to prove to be such a game-changer at Anfield.

But it just shows how important finding that player is for Chelsea. There is so much to like about certain individuals in Pochettino’s squad. But they are lacking some of the crucial attributes which brings the squad together.

It was arguably a similar story for Liverpool before they landed Alisson Becker and van Dijk.