Chelsea v Preston North End: Mauricio Pochettino hopes his side can use the FA Cup to qualify for Europe

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says the FA Cup is a “really important competition” for his side as they try to qualify for Europe.

Chelsea last won the FA Cup in 2018.

“Through the FA Cup or Carabao Cup we can achieve that [being in Europe next season],” Pochettino said.

“It’s a really important competition for us, because we are not in Europe,” he continued.

“In the Premier League, we are in a position that we need to grow and improve a lot if we want to be in Europe next season.”

Pochettino’s side have lost eight of their 20 league games this season and have to make up an 11-point gap if they are to reach fifth and secure a guaranteed spot in the Europa League.

Chelsea went out in the third round of the competition last campaign but reached the final in 2021/22 losing to Liverpool.

“Of course [we can win the FA Cup],” Pochettino said.

“The Carabao Cup and the FA Cup are competitions we need to try to go far [in].”

TEAM NEWS

Striker Armando Broja could start for the Blues while Christopher Nkunku will be part of the squad. Fellow forward Nicolas Jackson has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

Long-term absentees Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are not quite ready to return, while Romeo Lavia has suffered another injury setback after making his debut in December against Crystal Palace.

“We are going to treat it like a Premier League game,” Pochettino said.

“Just because it’s the FA Cup and it’s a Championship team, we are going to respect Preston. You will see we are going to put in place a starting XI with all the guarantees to perform.”