Alonso's Carabao Cup comments are disrespectful to competition and Chelsea fans

Is anyone cementing their legacy or having their job saved by simply winning a Carabao Cup? Probably not, in all honesty.

Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish proved that with victory in the tournament, then known as the Carling Cup, not covering up for a season that saw the Reds finish in eighth.

But to openly admit it was the tournament you least wanted to win, is probably overlooking the knock-on effects of winning. It is also not what the thousands of fans who undertook a 440-mile round trip on a Wednesday night to watch you lose want to hear.

It's worth giving Xabi Alonso that memo for next season, provided he's still around at Chelsea, which is no guarantee given how their hierarchy has acted in recent years.

The Spaniard can't be criticised for his openness it must be said. After seeing his side lose the fourth-round tie on penalties he claimed: "It's a small setback in this competition. It's probably the least important competition for us in the year, so we need to move on."

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Chelsea haven't won the Carabao Cup since 2015 when Jose Mourinho led them to the trophy. Guess what happened three months later? They were crowned champions.

Equally, when the Special One claimed his first Premier League title a decade earlier, in the lead-up to the business end of the season the Blues won what was still known as the Carling Cup by beating Liverpool in extra-time in Cardiff. In fact, a scroll down the roll of honour and you'll see winner after winner who either went on to claim the title or went particularly close.

Since Chelsea's success in 2015, of the 12 finals to be played, there has been a Premier League top-two finisher in eight of them. It may not stand out in his trophy cabinet, but Pep Guardiola's Manchester City dominance began with success in the Carabao Cup final.

That 2018 victory marked a run of four Wembley victories in a row. They would prove the catalyst for a spell of three league victories in that time, and also helped form one third of a domestic treble in 2019 - a feat never before achieve, and not replicated since.

The Carabao Cup final's spot in the calendar, often late February, provides the opportune moment for any team to taste that winning feeling. It is the type of experience you cannot buy, and proves invaluable for a group on the rise, still needing to legitimise their quality.

Whether it be Guardiola's City or Mourinho's Chelsea. The Catalan, who has won the tournament more than anyone in history, once said: “I remember when I arrived (at Manchester City in 2016), Brian Kidd told me, ‘Ah Carabao Cup, don’t pay attention (to it), play the young players, nobody cares, Carabao Cup, eugh, Sir Alex Ferguson was always, eugh it doesn’t matter’.

“Phwoar, I don’t know what happened in the last years, it looks like the final of any competition. This is the truth. Today, everyone and every team plays for win, win, win, and win.”

And it is that winning habit and feeling which Alonso has seen pass him by, even if he did pick a team that was more than strong enough to see off Liverpool.

It is also worth noting that Chelsea aren't having to concern themselves with a fixture pile-up. Their dire season last time out has freed them of any European responsibilities and the FA Cup is not yet upon us.

All of which means Alonso is not having to manage a workload that is leaving his players somewhat fatigued. Quite the opposite. In fact, you could argue the matches would benefit the Spaniard as he looks to implement his ideas.

He also can't accept the loss knowing Chelsea are well placed at present. Yes the Premier League is only eight games old, but the Blues have lost as many games as Manchester United down in 16th. Yes their four wins have them sat in fifth, but they're already eight points off top spot.

Chelsea are ultimately a team that have not won a domestic honour since Antonio Conte claimed the FA Cup in 2018. For Alonso it was also worth considering that, after a year where Chelsea finished a lowly 10th, few would've expected them to mount a title charge, not least those he answers to. What the Blues' bosses will be seeking this year is clear signs of progress.

Draws with Hull at Stamford Bridge, a comprehensive loss at Brentford and a somewhat embarrassing home defeat to Tottenham, prove that Alonso very much has a job on his hands. His credentials are undeniable, he's the only man to break the Bayern Munich monopoly of the Bundesliga in nearly 15 years - that takes some doing.

But a major plus for Alonso, come the inevitable season review come May, would've been a trophy. To win one, whether its the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup, yes you may see off several lower league sides, but you often have to knock off at least one rival, usually two.

Had the Spaniard done so, it would've been a real feather in his cap. So to be so blasé about a missed opportunity is something he will no doubt have to address in the coming days.