Danny Mills has claimed Mauricio Pochettino made the 'worst tactical decision on the planet' by failing to have anybody on the back post during their 1-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk netted the only goal of the game to give the Reds the trophy at Wembley, boosting their chances of completing a stunning quadruple in the process.
The Netherlands international's header sailed beyond the reach of Dorde Petrovic in the Chelsea goal, with the Blues visibly distraught after missing out on the trophy.
And Mills, speaking exclusively to GB News via 888Sport, has claimed Pochettino made the 'worst tactical decision on the planet' by failing to have somebody on the back post to clear the ball off the line.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is currently preparing his side for their FA Cup clash with Leeds tonight
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"Why oh why oh why do managers not put a player on the back post?" he fumed.
"I've never, never understood it. I think it's the worst tactical decision on the planet.
"I understand why you sometimes don't want to put two players on the posts, because it takes players out of the game effectively.
"But we've all watched football for long enough. How many times have we seen a corner come in, a header flicked, that just drifts in at the far post?
"If you put a man on that post, you make the goal two, three and a half yards smaller.
"You give your goalkeeper a much better opportunity to make a save. Goals, very rarely, go in at the near post. That might be once a season.
"Most goals come from corners that drift in at the back post, simple as that.
"So yeah, Mauricio Pochettino made one or two mistakes in that game. It was theirs for Chelsea, they didn't take their opportunity and fair play to Liverpool, they did a job.
"Virgil van Dijk came up with a captain's moment."
Chelsea fans, since the defeat, have fumed over Pochettino's substitutions.
He took off Ben Chilwell towards the end of extra time, with Liverpool then netting minutes later.
The Argentine hooked Raheem Sterling, too, despite the England international posing a threat out wide.
And Conor Gallagher was impressive in the heart of Chelsea's midfield before he was taken off.
Mills feels Pochettino's management of the game wasn't good enough as the 51-year-old missed out on a first trophy in English football.
And the former Manchester City and Leeds defender thinks 'experience should always win in those situations'.
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Virgil van Dijk scored the winner as Chelsea beat Liverpool in Sunday's Carabao Cup final
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He added: "I think they were disappointed.
"Especially in extra time. You've got senior players in there, I know Pochettino has had some questions over his substitutions, I would go along with that.
"When you're taking your captain off because he's a little bit tired, when you're taking Raheem Sterling off because he's a little bit tired, and Liverpool are bring on players with fresh legs...
"I get that. They're enthusiastic, but experience should always win in those situations and how you deal with those situations.
"I would question that."
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was dejected after his side's defeat to Liverpool in the final of the Carabao Cup
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Chelsea will be looking to bounce back when they face Leeds in the FA Cup tonight.
The west London giants beat Leeds 1-0 when they met in the Premier League last season.
But the Championship side will go into tonight's game full of confidence after winning their last six matches across all competitions.
