- Pochettino made seven modifications from the Blues’ victory over Luton on Friday
- Fernandez scored the winner from distance after approaching as a substitute
- Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the soiled’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off, Mail Sport’s new podcast
Eventually Chelsea booked their place in spherical three as it all the time felt their embarrassment of riches would ensure they would.
That Mauricio Pochettino wanted many of the big-money signings on his bench earlier than they noticed off AFC Wimbledon, although, instructed the true story of how a lot they have been pushed by the unfortunate League Two side earlier than progressing to arrange a gathering with Brighton.
Chelsea’s beginning group containing virtually £180m of signings made within the final 12 months was not sufficient to get the job achieved, which was an enormous credit score to Johnnie Jackson’s side.
But Pochettino was first ready to name on Nicolas Jackson, Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez, who scored the eventual winner, to assist Chelsea flip the tie round after falling behind.
And simply to underline the gulf, Pochettino summoned £115m British file purchase Moises Caicedo to see his side over the road.
Pochettino, who remained tight-lipped on Cole Palmer’s anticipated £45m arrival from Manchester City and Marc Cucurella’s potential departure for Manchester United, mentioned: ‘It was tough. It’s the great thing about the cups. You have a squad and gamers on the bench and they have been recent and got here on to assist us obtain what we wished.’
Wimbledon supervisor Johnnie Jackson mentioned: ‘It’s testomony to my group that we received them to a place that he’s had to make these modifications and deliver on two £100m plus gamers. We gave them a correct recreation.’
In-form Wimbledon, unbeaten within the league this season, shocked Stamford Bridge when they took the lead by way of James Tilley’s penalty, awarded after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was adjudged to have caught Harry Pell late as he tried to punch clear a free-kick.
Having re-watched the incident on his dugout monitor Pochettino felt Pell was offside and not fouled although apologised for taking his frustration out on the Wimbledon man as he returned to the pitch for remedy.
Pochettino won’t have been sad together with his personal gamers both who struggled to severely hassle Wimbledon till Noni Madueke received and scored a penalty earlier than half-time.
But he insisted his early exit earlier than the half-time whistle was usually because he wanted a fast bathroom break forward of making ready his interval tweaks quite than any frustration.
Unsurprisingly he was plotting modifications. Surprisingly it was only one on the break, Jackson approaching.
He threatened however so too did Wimbledon twice earlier than Fernandez and Gusto have been added to the Chelsea combine and the previous curled within the winner after a miskicked clearance from Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass.