Pochettino reveals why Enzo Fernandez was subbed off after just 32 MINUTES

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed why Enzo Fernandez was taken off early into Chelsea's Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Newcastle.

Fernandez was substituted after 32 minutes but the Blues went on to beat their opponents 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Callum Wilson opened the scoring early on and it took 92 minutes of blunt, profligate football until Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the equaliser that would take the game to spot-kicks.

But Chelsea got the job done and are through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, keeping alive hopes of silverware in an otherwise dismal season.

Fernandez was seen with teary eyes after the match and now Pochettino has revealed the reason he was taken off for Armando Broja a little over half on hour in.

Pochettino said: 'He felt sick.

'He didn’t feel well before the game and then when he started to play, it wasn’t going well. He asked to come out because he wasn’t feeling well.

‘He was a little bit sick before the game. He tried, he wanted to play, see if it goes well but it goes not so well and that is why [he looked upset].’

He also told reporters that Levi Colwill's half-time substitution was not injury-related.

The Chelsea boss said: 'Colwill was more tactics. He was a little bit tired at the end of the first half. Levi is going to be ready for the next game.

‘My perception was he was a little bit tired and we wanted a more offensive player to provide more energy. That was why we go for the option.’

Pochettino will quietly fancy his side's chances in the competion, knowing that Fulham and Middlesbrough are also in the semi-finals.

They will be joined by either Liverpool or West Ham.

It has been a disheartening December for Chelsea, with wins over Brighton and Sheffield United punctuated by