STAMFORD BRIDGE, 0-1 ON AGG

Blues boss wants to mend fences with fans

MANAGER Mauricio Pochettino wants to use tonight’s big game to restore the broken bond between Chelsea’s struggling players and their frustrated fans.

Former Blues winger Pat Nevin (below, in action for Scotland) has described the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge this season as being like a “mausoleum”.

And Chelsea have fences to mend after upsetting their travelling fans at the Riverside during their first-leg defeat to Middlesbrough.

Supporters were angry that many Blues players did not come over to acknowledge them after the 1-0 defeat.

And Pochettino said: “We all need to learn. If it was our mistake we need to apologise to our fans.

“I can understand our players. When you are so upset, you want to go inside to the dressing room and go home because you feel angry.

But we need to recognise the effort of our fans, and if we need to apologise I am the first one to apologise if they didn’t feel cared for.”

Pochettino also admitted that the atmosphere at the Bridge this season has not been great as Chelsea have struggled.

But he added: “We need to send the first signal that we care. That’s about our attitude and our commitment.

“If the fans see this energy from the team they are going to be behind us. Some games were very good, some games were a little bit flat.

“It’s normal because we started the season with massive expectations and it’s normal for the fans to feel a little bit disappointed.

“But this is a semi-final with the possibility to go

to

Wembley, so for sure our fans are going to be really motivated to help the team reach the final.”

Pochettino also revealed midfielder Moises Caicedo will be ready to go despite fears for his family back home. Chelsea are paying for security for Caicedo’s relatives in Ecuador because of the turbulent political situation.

Pochettino said: “Every day he is talking about the situation in Ecuador. At the moment, good news. The family is safe.

“But the situation

is not easy. It’s normal the club cares for him. The club is there to help us if we have some problems.

“We need the player in his best condition to compete and you know that can affect the performance of the player if something is going wrong with the family. But he is OK. He feels better now. It’s a more relaxed situation.”

Pochettino suffered a stomach bug on his recent sunshine break in Barcelona – but he hopes he will not be feeling sick after tonight.

The Blues boss said: “I suffered some problems. I felt really, really sick. Maybe it was something I ate. It is OK now.

“We lost the first leg so there was a bit of a strange feeling. We need to improve, of course.

“If we can play well and win the game more than one or two nil, that will come. Middlesbrough is going to be tough but we need to deserve it. We need to believe.”

CHELSEA BORO Petrovic Glover Disasi van den Berg

Silva Fry

Colwill Mcnair Chilwell Engel Fernandez Howson Caicedo Hackney Palmer Forss Gallagher Rogers Sterling Barlaser

Broja Coburn

TV: Sky Sports from 7pm

REF: John Brooks