With Thomas Tuchel and Jürgen Klopp, the two German world coaches of the recent past will face each other on Sunday. In the final of the Carabao Cup, the English League Cup final, Chelsea FC takes on Liverpool FC. What does a British expert expect from this game between two top teams? Kicker spoke to BBC analyst and commentator Pat Nevin.
It’s a fifty-fifty game, Mr. Nevin, isn’t it?
60-40 for Liverpool I’d say to be honest. Precisely because of their impressive run recently.
What exactly impresses you so much?
I’m lucky to be seeing them more often these days. What blows my mind is that they keep getting better. The best example is the Champions League first leg at Inter Milan. Liverpool have had a number of highly respectable players for some time. In the meantime, however, the backup is much better than before. Before, I was concerned that after 13 or 14 players, the squad lacked depth. In Milan, Jürgen Klopp now comes on with three players at the same time, which completely turns the game around and they win 2-0. With Diogo Jota missing recently, the technical quality of an already outstanding attack has increased again.
And Chelsea?
I see most encounters. If not for the BBC, then for Chelsea TV. Their defense is fantastic but creativity is limited, especially in full-back positions. That makes the difference for 60:40 – Liverpool have Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold available, Chelsea don’t.
Van Dijk as the Reds’ weak point
Of the two finalists, which player has impressed you the most so far this season?
You have to start with Mohamed Salah! He is phenomenal. You think he can’t break his own goalscoring records and then he does. If we weren’t still living in the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, we would be talking about Salah as the best footballer in the world. Even though I’ve played for Everton and Chelsea, I love being at Anfield (laughs). To see Mo Salah play!
Who or what else distinguishes the Reds?
I’ve already mentioned the importance of full-backs. In a peculiar way, Jordan Henderson also accounts for this advantageous depth. When he plays he gives the whole system so much more security. Liverpool’s big trump card is that if someone has an average day, someone else will step in. Again and again.
Do the Reds have a weakness?
I like Virgil van Dijk. He’s a fabulous player. But I’m not sure if he’s at the stellar level he was before his long lay-off with injury. Nobody could get past him, he was unbelievably fast. I wouldn’t call it a weakness, we’re talking at the highest level, but the two central defenders could be a target.
Thiago Silva is the best football-playing defender the Premier League has seen so far.
Who stands out in the blues?
A few weeks after his arrival, I realized: Thiago Silva is the best football-playing defender the Premier League has ever seen. By that I specifically mean his intelligence, his calmness on the ball. He’s amazing every single week. He’s very important to Chelsea. Nobody has been able to avoid Antonio Rüdiger with his unusual style of play for what feels like two years, the fans love him. But in terms of football, Thiago Silva is simply the best. Against Liverpool they have to play with a back three in defence, a back four like they tried last won’t work.
What made the difference after Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as head coach?
That’s very difficult to say. Chelsea weren’t terrible with Frank, not really bad. The belief in the group was there. Except for one or two people, the team liked this coach. You might have been a little more carefree under Frank. Thomas doesn’t allow mistakes. Kai Havertz was not fit all the time, but improved noticeably. If he’s good, Chelsea are stronger, like they did against Lille. But it’s really difficult to pinpoint one specific factor that made the difference…but sure, they defend better overall as a team now.
You mentioned Rüdiger and Havertz. The third German international at Chelsea, Timo Werner, has been beaten in public.
Whoever you speak to in Germany, tell them: The Chelsea fans love him. I deliberately don’t say “like”, but “love”, they love him. He had difficult periods. Everyone says he spends too much time offside, some think he was born offside… the phrase was invented for Inzaghi (laughs) … but seriously: He may miss one or the other big chance, but he never limits his efforts! Compared to Romelu Lukaku, although he has a better goal average in terms of games, Chelsea fans do not agree on him. Werner has no doubts about his commitment to the team, although his game may be limited he will be forgiven.
Club World Cup? “Nobody cares here”
What is the value of the League Cup, also measured against the European Supercup and a Club World Cup. It takes at least more games to win it.
It’s different in England and Scotland than in most European countries: after the Championship and the FA Cup, there’s a third trophy up for grabs. It’s still seen as a major competition even if it’s not the Champions League. The top clubs are always in the final. I’m happy to quote Jose Mourinho’s famous saying that the League Cup was possibly his most important success at Chelsea. Because it was the first. With that, the proof and the trust were created: coaches and team can win titles. A club world champion is important in South America, but nobody cares here. Everyone knows who won the League Cup. Of course, the best teams will be called up at the end. It’s a cultural question.
Instead of Alisson, Klopp could use his number two Caoimhin Kelleher in goal because he has been in the team in the League Cup rounds so far.
That wouldn’t surprise me. But in a final, the best goalkeeper should be between the posts. And that’s Alisson, although Kelleher certainly didn’t disappoint. On the contrary.
What would stop you?
Footballers tick like this: If the manager doesn’t field the best eleven, they ask themselves in the dressing room: Let’s take this really seriously (laughs)? Now that sounds tough. But football is tough, especially at a cup final at Wembley.
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