Chilwell reveals shower chat with Thiago Silva as he vows to end the Wembley hoodoo
BEN CHILWELL says Chelsea have “unfinished business” at Wembley after losing FIVE domestic cup finals in a row.
Chilwell led Mauricio Pochettino's side to a Carabao Cup semi-final thrashing against Middlesbrough on Tuesday to book a place in the February 25 showpiece.
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But the England left-back is adamant that his club is “demanding trophies” and that they must end their Wembley hoodoo after three successive FA Cup final losses between 2020 and 2022 and two League Cup defeats in 2019 and 2022.
Chilwell said: “It's three finals we've lost since I've been at the club so there's 100 per cent unfinished business.
“I spoke to Thiago Silva in the shower (after the semi-final) and said we have unfinished business at Wembley.
“We've both been there three times and lost three times, so we definitely want to win.”
Chilwell played in just one of those finals, against his former club Leicester in the 2021 FA Cup final.
Despite winning the Champions League that same year, Chelsea's performance at Wembley has been dismal.
They suffered penalty shootout defeats to Liverpool in both 2022 grand finals.
Chilwell, who made his first start in three months in the 6-1 second leg win over Boro, added: “We have to make sure we really enjoy the experience and absorb it.
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“There are only a few of us who have won a trophy at Chelsea and it is a club that demands trophies, so we have to make sure we win.”
Boss Pochettino may have a £1billion squad at his disposal, but the Chelsea manager's route to Wembley has been tricky.
A demanding group of fans, an inexperienced group of players and long-term injuries among senior pros have hampered his efforts.
Poch has a proud history of developing young English talent, but they say 'you don't win anything with children' as the Argentine looks to lift his first trophy in English football with a youthful squad.
At 27, and with a Chelsea career blighted by injuries, Chilwell feels like one of Pochettino's few senior players.
Appointed vice-captain behind fellow full-back Reece James – also a frequent absentee through injury – Chilwell has revealed that some of the new boys have struggled to cope with the demands of playing at a club that lifted trophies at the Roman Abramovich era.
But Pochettino kept Chilwell busy in a leadership role during his layoff due to a hamstring injury.
Chilwell said: “I had a chat with the manager a few days after I got injured and said, 'Now I can't help on the pitch, how do you want me to help you get rid of that?'
“It was that leadership role that made me help the young guys. Because for some of them it's a big step to come to Chelsea and play in front of demanding fans who want us to win because they're so used to it.”
Although their away form has been poor, with five defeats in six on the road, Stamford Bridge will be a fortress again – with Aston Villa the visitors tomorrow in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Chilwell said: “We are fighting for two domestic cups. We are not happy with reaching one final, we also want to get to the FA Cup final.
“It's eight wins out of nine at the Bridge, so it's going to be a really good place for us to play and we really enjoy playing here.
“The connection between the fans and the players is starting to come back. I'm eager to be back. I love playing here, the fans are always so good to me.”