Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso downplays importance of Carabao Cup after defeat
Chelsea lost to Liverpool on penalties in the Carabao Cup fourth round, and manager Xabi Alonso described the competition as the least important in the club's calendar.
Chelsea were eliminated from the Carabao Cup after a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool in the fourth round. In the post-match interview, manager Xabi Alonso said the tournament was "a small setback" and "probably the least important competition for us in the year, so we need to move on."
The defeat comes as Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League after eight games, eight points behind the leaders. The club has not won a domestic trophy since the 2015 Carabao Cup under Jose Mourinho and the 2018 FA Cup under Antonio Conte.
Alonso, who previously won the competition as a player more times than any other, faced criticism from some fans who travelled to the match, but he emphasized that the team must focus on the league and upcoming fixtures.