Mauricio Pochettino and his Blues side endured a tough day at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final, which ended in extra-time defeat after Virgil van Dijk headed Liverpool into the lead from a set-piece with just two minutes of the 120 left on the clock.

It was particularly disappointing for Pochettino after Chelsea produced arguably the better of the chances on the day, with Raheem Sterling having a goal ruled out for a narrow offside, Conor Gallagher hitting the woodwork and Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher making a string of saves to deny us the opening goal shortly before the end of regulation time.

'I think that was the key,' said Pochettino. 'Today we created five or six good chances but we didn’t score.

'In a game like today, in a final, the team that scores first has a big advantage. We didn’t score that was the problem.

'Then we conceded in almost the last minute, so it was difficult to react. But a final is about winning, it’s not about talking too much about what could have happened, because you can’t go back.'

Pochettino feels those late chances which slipped away had a lasting effect on the Blues as we went into extra time...

'Of course it was difficult,' added Pochettino. 'Sometimes some experience and leadership on the pitch helps, but after it is frustrating.

'The players feel the disappointment because we were so close to winning the game in 90 minutes and we started to lose the energy, and some players like Conor or Chilly start to feel really tired and we need to use maybe different players to go in and help.

'But we cannot say nothing because the effort was massive, I am happy with the effort. It is only about believing and we didn’t get the goal that we wanted.

'We made a few changes with Conor and Chilly coming off in extra time, but it’s true that we didn’t keep the energy of how we finished the second half. But for sure I feel proud of the players, they made a big effort.'

He also admits this is a big disappointment for him and the players to get over...

'I feel the same as the players. I am so disappointed, it is so painful. I am the guy with less time left to win titles, they are younger than me and for sure they have time.

'In football it is always about when you have the opportunity, because people think their first time in the final should be good, but after when you don’t get what you want, it’s like all the effort you made for seven or eight months has disappeared so quick.

'That is painful and difficult to manage. But we are competitive and if we want to win we need to move on.'