Chelsea have the chance to book their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup on Wednesday against Wolves, and simultaneously put an end to a concerning record the club have in this competition.
Despite winning two trophies last season, Enzo Maresca is still being faced with convincing portions of the club’s fanbase that he is the right man for the job.
A domestic honour would certainly assist in him doing that, and he can take inspiration from when Jose Mourinho won over Chelsea fans with League Cup glory in 2005.
There will be an appetite for the club to have a better run than they did in this competition last season. The Blues were knocked out in this round by eventual winners Newcastle United.
The Chelsea starting XI pose for a team photo before playing against in the Champions League.
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea have lost five of their last seven League Cup Fourth Round ties against Premier League sides
The Fourth Round has proved a stumbling block for Chelsea in recent years, especially when they are matched up against Premier League opposition.
The Blues have actually been eliminated from five of their last seven Round Four ties when playing, a record they will be looking to put an end to when they face bottom of the table Wolves tonight.
Despite their opposition struggling greatly in the 25/26 campaign, Chelsea have reason to be worried by Wolves, who will be desperate to claim a big scalp and get their season kick-started at last.
Chelsea’s previous Fourth Round woes
Before the defeat against Newcastle, Chelsea were knocked out by Tottenham and Manchester United in consecutive seasons when Frank Lampard was in charge of the club.
While there was no big shame in losing to either of those opponents, the Blues will have cause for concern ahead of the Wolves tie that they have been upset by some sides too.
In 2016/17, a season where they won the Premier League, they were knocked out in the fourth round by West Ham United, and the season before were beaten on penalties by Stoke.
Maresca will be very keen to not add his side to that list of Chelsea sides who have underachieved in the past, with pressure already building from some corners of Stamford Bridge on his role as manager of the club.