Mauricio Pochettino facing 'make-or-break' Chelsea showdown just days after Carabao Cup final

Mauricio Pochettino is facing a crucial match that could decide his future at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea host Leeds United at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

The fifth-round tie could be pivotal for Pochettino's destiny at the club. While he isn't thought to be in immediate danger, according to the Mirror, the club's top brass will likely judge him on his ability to win trophies and secure a place in Europe next season.

Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are keen to give Pochettino every opportunity to succeed. However, the Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool at Wembley was a big blow for the Argentine.

He has always said that he wanted to achieve success quickly, and Chelsea isn't a club known for accepting transitional periods. Despite this, they remain committed to building for the future, signing players for the long term, and revamping their recruitment processes to create a squad capable of competing for the biggest prizes.

But with the team currently stuck in mid-table and having missed a golden opportunity to win a trophy and secure a European spot, the FA Cup now represents a chance to save the season on both fronts.

Pochettino's team has been improving in recent weeks, with their performance at Manchester City ten days ago being a standout. However, the match against Liverpool revealed a lack of a winning mentality, which the 51-year-old himself admitted led to them playing for penalties in extra time.

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This statement might not have been well received, especially considering they were playing against an injury-ridden