Cardiff City have reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals for the first time since they lost the 2012 final to Liverpool on penalties.

They are hoping to win the competition for the first time in their history.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are aiming to lift the trophy for a sixth time.

They last won the League Cup in 2015, beating Tottenham in the final.

The Blues have since lost in three finals - against Manchester City in 2019 and twice against Liverpool in 2022 and 2024.

Chelsea also won the League Cup in 2007, 2005, 1998 and 1965.

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is pressed about his "worst 48 hours" comments.

"We're in an era where people say what they think, I respect your opinion, no problem. We are in a moment where people can say what they think. I don't have anything to add."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has said midfielder Cole Palmer will not feature against Cardiff, after the Chelsea star returned from injury recently.

Then when asked if he is happy at Chelsea, Maresca replies: "Absolutely, yes."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is asked about his "worst 48 hours" comments.

"I already spoke about that and I don't have anything to add. It is Cardiff tomorrow please."

We will have full Maresca quotes shortly.

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer said: "He wants us and others to talk about that.

"There's no doubt about it, he's directing that at the board or the owners. My guess is he doesn't feel he's getting the protection, after the defeat in midweek, and that hurts him.

"Chelsea are a very different club now to 15 or 20 years ago in terms of who they buy, the players they want to develop. It is difficult to compete with the very best when you are doing that. But the big picture, I think he's doing a good job."

Danny Murphy added: "Football is ruthless. These are multi-billionaire owners. If they feel their manager is talking directly to them through the press, it's not going to end well for him."

Chelsea

The Blues could be the first side to book their place in the League Cup semi-finals, with the other three ties taking place later this week and next.

Chelsea's route to the quarter-finals:

• Lincoln City 1-2 Chelsea - Round Three
• Wolves 3-4 Chelsea - Last 16

Carabao Cup

Tuesday, 16 December

Cardiff v Chelsea

Wednesday, 17 December

Man City v Brentford (19:30)

Newcastle v Fulham (20:15)

Tuesday, 23 December

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Chelsea

Saturday's cryptic comments were not the first time Enzo Maresca has taken an unusual stance when speaking to the media.

• In October last year Maresca said he expected "more" from captain Reece James when it comes to leadership. The Chelsea boss added: "Most of the time, a player thinks that 'because I am captain I expect that you [the manager] give me more'. No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest."

• In July 2024 Maresca said there were no "bad intentions" from Enzo Fernandez after his player was accused by the French Football Federation of singing a "racist and discriminatory" chant after Argentina won the Copa America.

• In September this year Maresca dismissed sympathy for Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, saying his father has more of a "hard life" as a fisherman than his club's so-called bomb squad players. Asked if the situation is mentally challenging for the duo, he said: "My father is 75 years old and for 50 years he's been a fisherman, working from two o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock in the morning. This is a hard life - not the way a player works."

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

It was not clear exactly who or what Enzo Maresca was referring to in his cryptic comments, but it seemed obvious he was looking to send a message.

In the previous 48 hours, Chelsea had returned from his native Italy after defeat in Bergamo to Atalanta, held a single training session at Cobham, attended a pre-match news conference where he appeared relaxed and ended a four-game winless run by beating Everton.

It was clear from Maresca's regular news conferences that he believed his tenure at Stamford Bridge had been a success so far.

He was proud to have won the Club World Cup and Conference League while qualifying for the Champions League in his first season. There had been mixed messaging over whether the latter was a target before the campaign, but it increasingly became a club objective after Chelsea made such a positive start under his leadership.

It meant Maresca ended last season ahead of schedule while delivering on the project. He had still not lost more than two league games in a row.

It is clear, therefore, that Maresca has felt exposed by criticism while managing the youngest squad in the Premier League. He has also been without Cole Palmer for most of this season, Moises Caicedo for several matches and Levi Colwill for the entirety of the campaign - all regarded as among Chelsea's best players in their positions.

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca described the build-up to Saturday's victory over Everton as "the worst 48 hours" since he arrived at the club.

He delivered the cryptic message in his post-match news conference after their 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

"The way the players want to learn has been fantastic and this is the reason why I praise them - because with so many problems, they are doing very well after a complicated week," Maresca said.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn't support us."

Pressed on what he meant, Maresca added: "Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn't support me and the team."

When asked if he meant people internally at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. In general," before clarifying when asked if it was aimed at fans or the media: "I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans."

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Chelsea

Time now to look ahead to the midweek action - coming up are the League Cup quarter-finals.

League One leaders Cardiff City host Premier League giants Chelsea tomorrow night in what looks like the tie of the round. We will be hearing from Blues boss Enzo Maresca at his pre-match media conference at noon, we hope.

We wonder if Maresca will be as cryptic today as he was when speaking to the press at the weekend...

Steph Houghton
Former England captain on 5 Live Breakfast

What a manager Unai Emery is and what a job he has done with that Aston Villa team.

They haven't invested that much in the summer, whether they do after Christmas, I don't know, but they are hitting form at the right time.

They are in the title race now and have put themselves in a really good position.

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Nigel Reo-Coker
Former Aston Villa midfielder on Football Daily

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When you watch how Unai Emery has coached this team and with the players they have available, they can beat anyone in the Premier League on any day.

That is the beauty of what they are. But can they continue to be consistent? Well, the fact they went a goal down against West Ham twice and came back makes a statement.

They are doing well in Europe as well, but Emery keeps saying it is one game at a time and I think that is the right message for the players in the dressing room.

Deep down, though, I bet he is loving every single minute of this because he has built something that is really amazing and is competing in the Premier League title race.

Emery has done so much for Villa so it would be great for everyone to say he has taken them to another level with a trophy.

Unai Emery is doing his best to keep everyone's feet firmly on the ground at Aston Villa.

But their recent victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal, which helped cut the gap to three points, and Sunday's battling win at West Ham has only served to fan the flames of expectation.

"We are not feeling under pressure, we are feeling ambitious and we try to challenge in Europe and in the Premier League," said Emery, with his side third in both the Premier League and Europa League tables.

"Enjoy each match, try to prepare, then rest.

"The players must feel comfortable doing it. This is the process we are doing. Now it is Manchester United."

Villa host a similarly rejuvenated United side in their next match in the Premier League on Sunday, 21 December (16:30 GMT).

Aston Villa fan Becky Fielding was asked on 5 Live Breakfast what trophy the club were best-placed to win this season?:

"Maybe [the Europa League], and the [Premier League] title race is on. We are only three points behind Arsenal. Anything can happen and it would be such an amazing achievement, but we just need to keep going.

"I don't want to say what I think we are going to get because I sometimes think it's going to jinx it, but just to be where we are - to be third in the Premier League, above the defending champions [Liverpool] - it's just amazing to see how well we are doing. Keep the faith and keep going."

On whether the club can bolster their challenge in the winter transfer window: "I believe that where we are opens us up to bringing in some extra good signings in January."

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Aston Villa fan Becky Fielding made her feelings clear on 5 Live Breakfast about the job being done by manager Unai Emery:

"It's just amazing to be honest. Considering we weren't really able to spend in the summer and we are using the squad that we used last season, it just shows the kind of manager that we've got, to keep pushing us forward.

"He's bringing the players on all the time. Look at [Morgan] Rogers. He's doing a fantastic job. [John] McGinn - he's been with us since our Championship days and he's still one of our top players. I am just grateful for Emery and everything that he has done for Villa. As a Villa fan, it's just brilliant."

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On murmurs of discontent after Villa's poor start: "As soon as we do start to dip, people start questioning the manager. Sometimes it is a bit wrong. I do believe in him. You can see from his face on the sidelines that he is so passionate about the job. He wants the Villa to do well.

"He's brought so much to the Villa since he's been here. I just think his main thing now is he does want to win something and I believe that we will win something, either this year or maybe next year, we'll definitely come out with something. We've just got to keep believing."

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It's amazing to think that it took Aston Villa seven matches in all competitions to register their first win this season.

There were even concerns that all was not well behind the scenes after the club failed to replace on-loan talents Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio after missing out on Champions League qualification.

But since picking up that first victory on 25 September, at home to Bologna in the Europa League, Unai Emery has led his side to 15 wins in 17 matches.

They now sit third in the Premier League table, just three points behind leaders Arsenal, and in the same position in the Europa League, well placed to qualify directly for the last 16.