Much was made of Mauricio Pochettino’s failure to win a trophy during an otherwise impressive five years in charge of Tottenham.

Three trophies in 18 months at Paris Saint-Germain quietened that talk but the pressure remains for Pochettino to break that duck in England.

Chelsea may no longer be the reliable title-winning outfit of much of the past two decades but Pochettino has often spoken of the need to compete for and win trophies during his time in west London.

With the final coming in February, the Carabao Cup is the first opportunity for Pochettino and his side to meet those expectations. Jose Mourinho often made a point of prioritising the competition during his first seasons in charge of Premier League sides due to the momentum that lifting a trophy in mid-season can provide.

Pochettino has taken the same approach and the fact Chelsea have reached the final should be applauded. But tougher tests still await, with rivals Fulham or title-chasing Liverpool looming at Wembley.

But for now, Pochettino can point to the progress his side are undeniably making under his watch.