Xabi Alonso says Chelsea must quickly move on from their “disappointing” EFL Cup exit after losing 6-5 on penalties to Liverpool at Anfield.
The fourth-round tie finished 1-1 after Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead and Gakpo equalised during normal time. Neither side could find a winner, with Liverpool eventually progressing to the quarter-finals after the shootout.
Alonso admitted the result was difficult to accept but felt Chelsea had delivered an improved performance compared with their previous match.
“Without doubt, exiting the competition this way is disappointing,” he told club media. “When you’re so close to advancing, anything can happen in a penalty shootout, and we had our opportunities.
“But aside from that, I think the team performed well. We played competitively, showed good quality, and made improvements compared to our last match. That’s what we need. This is a setback, and we need to move forward.”
Chelsea’s manager said he could do little during the shootout other than watch as the outcome was decided from the spot.
“I could only wait and watch,” Alonso said. “I felt the tension of that moment, and you have to deal with it. I won’t dwell on it too much.
“It’s a setback, but what I need to do now is move forward and focus on the Premier League. As soon as I leave Anfield, I’ll start thinking about Saturday’s game.”
Chelsea face another match in just over two days, leaving Alonso with limited time to help the players recover from the disappointment and prepare for their next fixture.
The former Liverpool midfielder said the squad would need to respond positively, highlighting the narrow margin between advancing and elimination.
“We will pick ourselves up and lift everyone’s spirits,” he said. “Tonight we weren’t far from advancing; it was an extremely close match.
“So I think there were many positive things today, both in terms of football and mentality, that we can build on and continue to improve.”
More than 6,000 Chelsea supporters attended the match, and Alonso praised their backing throughout the evening.
“When I saw our section of the stands full of our supporters, I really appreciated that feeling,” he said. “I knew we would feel their support.
“At the end, I felt for them because we were so close to advancing. When you’ve come so close but can’t finish it, it’s a tough feeling. But their support was fantastic, and I truly valued it.”
