Chelsea vs Middlesbrough: Confirmed team news for Carabao Cup semi-final tie

Chelsea take on Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Tuesday night and the confirmed team news is in from Stamford Bridge.

It’s advantage Middlesbrough heading into Tuesday night’s second leg in the capital. Hayden Hackney’s first leg goal earned a 1-0 win for the Championship side earlier this month.

Chelsea have 90 minutes to overturn the deficit to ensure they progress into the Carabao Cup final, which takes place next month at Wembley on February 25. The winners of the tie will face either Liverpool or Fulham.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the biggest game of the season because it’s our access to the final,” Pochettino told reporters on Monday.

‘We need to be convincing to be able to win. It’s the possibility to play in and win a final. It’s a good pressure. I like this type of challenge. We want to be in that situation and play in semi-finals.

“I think the game tomorrow is really important because it’s the possibility to win a trophy. In a personal way, I’m so excited for the game. It’s a way to play at Wembley, a final, and to have the possibility to win a title. I’m so motivated and I try to translate to the players how good it is to play a final and to play in Wembley.

“Some players have that experience of playing in finals and we need to use that experience to translate to the younger players that maybe still haven’t had the opportunity. We need to deserve it and we need to believe.’”

The Carabao Cup tie will get underway at 8pm (UK time) and will be available to watch live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

Here is the confirmed team news as Chelsea take on Middlesbrough in west London.

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Chelsea

Starting XI: Petrovic, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Mudryk, Broja, Sterling

Bench: Bergstrom, Curd, Badiashile, Gilchrist, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Castledine, Madueke, Washington

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Glover, Van den Berg, Barlaser, Clarke, Fry, Hackney, Rogers, Howson, Forss, Crooks, Engel

Bench: Jones, Gilbert, Dijksteel, McNair, Coburn, O’Brien, McCabe, Bridge, Bilongo