Ben Chilwell insists that a win in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool would be ‘more important’ for where Chelsea are today than their 2021 Champions League triumph

If Mauricio Pochettino is to succeed in tripping Jurgen Klopp during his last dance, he knows it will take more than tying the German’s shoelaces to get him grinning at Wembley.

Yet the Chelsea manager’s preparations for this Carabao Cup final went beyond making plans on the training pitch. They’ve brought in Pochettino – part manager, part psychologist, by the Argentine’s own admission – who spent much of this week in Cobham speaking to this £1 billion talent to make sure they understand why Sunday is so important.

Why the Carabao Cup is worth more than its modest £100,000 prize pool and passage to next season’s Europa Conference League play-offs. Why they get the chance to prove that the ‘project’ – one of Pochettino’s favorite words – works.

Why they shouldn’t fear Liverpool, even if they have the extra motivation to ensure Klopp’s farewell tour is a memorable one. Why this could be the start of something special.

This is a ‘World Cup final’ for the Chelsea manager, according to Chris Sutton on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast this week, and Pochettino always strives to ensure his players are in the right frame of mind.

Chelsea come into the match as underdogs but remain a dangerous proposition for any team

Ben Chilwell could be the oldest Chelsea player on the pitch on Sunday if Raheem Sterling and Thiago Silva miss out, with the Blues becoming a youthful team since the arrival of Todd Boehly

The words landed on Ben Chilwell, who will be their oldest player on the pitch if Raheem Sterling, 29, and Thiago Silva, 39, miss out.

The 27-year-old won the Champions League in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel but was optimistic when explaining why the Carabao Cup would be a bigger achievement for the club in its current state.

“Not in prestige, but in the way we want the club to go,” Chilwell said this week. ‘The prestige of the Champions League is higher, but this is arguably more important in terms of where the club is now.

“With the group we have now – a young group, where there have been ups and downs this season – it would be huge to get them as a team and staff and with the fans. Bigger than the Champions League.

‘When I joined Chelsea I came in as one of the younger players and in recent years it has completely turned around. I took on the role as one of the more experienced players. It is important for me to try to emphasize to all new players why silverware is so important.’

The backs will be central on Sunday. There could be fights like Conor Bradley vs. Cole Palmer; the war of the whippersnappers. Andy Robertson vs. Sterling; elderly involvement. Malo Gusto vs. Luis Diaz; a scrap.

Then there is Chilwell against Mohamed Salah, should the Egyptian play after missing Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Luton on Wednesday. “I would like him to play,” Chilwell told Mail Sport. ‘You’re playing at Wembley in a cup final. When I play against Salah it will be exciting.’

Liverpool may be in the middle of an injury crisis, but Chelsea have one too. They can’t call on several first-team players because of a thigh here and a knee there.

Chilwell has suffered three cup final losses at Wembley since joining Chelsea – against Leicester in the FA Cup in 2021, and against Liverpool in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in 2022. He could have been in the red tomorrow if he were to play in 2021 had signed for Liverpool. 2016 when Klopp chased him.

The England star has suffered two Wembley defeats to the Reds since moving to Chelsea, including the FA Cup final in 2022. Jurgen Klopp photographed Liverpool’s victory

The left-back was loaned out to Huddersfield and was then managed by David Wagner, who was best man at Klopp’s wedding a year earlier.

Wagner recommended Chilwell to his best friend at Liverpool, but Chilwell signed a five-year contract on his return to Leicester and only left in 2020 when Chelsea offered the Foxes £50 million.

Like Klopp, Pochettino has a keen interest in his full-backs. Danny Rose once played in a 3-1 win for Tottenham at Crystal Palace and thought he had played a good game, only for Pochettino to show him a video of his performance with 26 clips proving what he had done wrong in Selhurst Park.

Chilwell laughed when Mail Sport brought up this story and said he had suffered similar treatment. There was a moment during last week’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City when he could have played a ball over the top for Sterling. Afterwards he was told by his boss what had happened.

“He’s a very demanding manager and that’s what you want,” Chilwell said. ‘There will be training and matches where you think you have done well, then he pulls you in. Then there are other matches where you think you didn’t do well, but he did. He can keep you on track very well.’

Chelsea’s players had an honest conversation with each other after the 4-2 league defeat to Wolves at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago. Pochettino was busy with media duties as his men shifted their focus and reminded themselves that they are still in the FA Cup and have had this cup final too.

Sometimes it’s better to let the boys deal with their own problems, unlike when it was leaked that owner Todd Boehly had used the word ’embarrassing’ during a post-match chat following a home defeat to Brighton.

Chilwell revealed that Pochettino is very demanding but insists this is what you expect from a manager

Boehly will be at Wembley hoping his team wins their first trophy since taking over

For the new owner, there may be reminders of the previous regime on Sunday. It was the final of this competition that marked the beginning of Roman Abramovich’s gold rush in 2005 – the first trophy in return for his millions when Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-2.

Boehly will be at Wembley hoping his team wins their first trophy for all those transfer fees; a reward in exchange for his risk. He will be joined there by Behdad Eghbali, the co-owner with whom rumors of a rift have been dismissed by sources close to both.

Boehly, Eghbali, Pochettino and Chilwell realize they will be up against it as Klopp and Liverpool aim to secure at least one trophy in their final adventure of the season together, but they don’t care.

Pochettino and his players are only thinking of starting their own story by adding some silver to Boehly’s gold.