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Five Positives From Chelsea's 6-1 Win Over Middlesborough

Chelsea cruised into the Carabao Cup Final, demolishing Middlesborough 6-2 on aggregate along the way. The Blues have now reached the League Cup Final for the 10th time in their history, with only Liverpool making more appearances in the competition's final (13).

By Ishan Shah

Chelsea v Middlesbrough - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Chelsea v Middlesbrough - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages
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1. Ben Chilwell's Return To Left Back

Ben Chilwell
Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Chilwell made his first start since September, and to the delight of most Chelsea fans, the England International deputised at Left Back rather than at Left Wing, where he was previously deployed this season.

Chilwell is Chelsea's only fit fullback at the moment, and within the first 10 minutes, he reminded Pochettino what he had been missing. Chilwell's penetrating run from deep was not picked up by Middlesborough's defence and he was denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after Thomas Glover clattered into him in the box. It was Chilwell's pass that unlocked Middlesborough's defence leading to the opening goal of the game.

Chilwell's off-the-ball movement is one of the best in this current Chelsea team. He can invert, he can overlap, he makes extremely intelligent runs in behind, and he has the pace to recover when the team loses possession as well. This performance was a reminder that when Chilwell is fully fit, he is one of the best fullbacks in the world.

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