Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso believes his team showed signs of progress despite suffering elimination from the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool.
Reflecting on the encounter, Alonso highlighted the courage and improvement displayed by his players, insisting that the contest was closely fought.
The Spanish coach acknowledged the disappointment of exiting the competition but viewed the result as a temporary setback rather than a reason to overlook the team's performance.
Chelsea will now look to take the positives from the Anfield encounter and turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures as Alonso continues to build his team.
Alonso’s message is clear: the defeat hurts, but the performance offers encouragement for the road ahead.