Manchester City and Chelsea comfortably advanced in the English League Cup, showcasing depth despite fielding heavily rotated squads. City beat Watford 2-1, Chelsea thrashed Barrow 5-0 with a hat-trick by Christopher Nkunku, while Aston Villa and Leicester also secured wins. The competition continues with the focus on providing opportunities for fringe players.
Tottenham Hotspur survived a scare in the third round of the English League Cup, overcoming a spirited Coventry City side with two late goals to secure a 2-1 victory. Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson netted the crucial goals for Tottenham, while Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered another early exit from the competition with a 3-2 defeat at Brighton.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea after a disappointing season in which the club failed to secure qualification for the Champions League. Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League standings, were beaten finalists in the English League Cup, and reached the semifinals of the FA Cup. Pochettino leaves Chelsea after just one season in charge, having failed to end his search for a first trophy in English soccer after spells with Southampton and Tottenham previously.
