Why Chelsea vs Newcastle United is the first big test of the Mauricio Pochettino era

Mauricio Pochettino has been presented with a perfect opportunity to get the Chelsea fans behind his team and create an atmosphere at Stamford Bridge that should be the foundation on which this project finally takes off.

The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge has become a pale shadow of its former great self and a ground that used to intimidate opposition has lost its aura. Four of the last Chelsea managers have tried and failed to reignite this once-great fortress, but this team can endear itself and finally strike a chord with a perfect performance against Eddie Howe's team, which is wounded from its Champions League exit.

In his first spell as Blues boss from 2004 to 2008, ex-manager Jose Mourinho turned Stamford Bridge into a fortress and the club did not suffer a home defeat in his first 60 games in charge, winning 46 and drawing 14. That was the foundation on which the success of the last 20 years was built, a home ground that represented what Chelsea was all about, intimidating, proud, loud and committed. The home fans know a team that plays for the crest and it's in seasoning defining games like this that a great team is born. This is the perfect chance to get this project going.

The revenge after the disgrace at St James' Park

One of the defining moments of Pochettino's time at SW6 so far was his disappointment after the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle just a couple of weeks ago. That day he questioned his team's character, accused them of being soft and threatened to cancel their scheduled off days before making a U-turn.

After the defeat that day at St James's Park, he said, "Even if Newcastle weren't great, it was so easy with the way we conceded, and we were so soft in every challenge. We did not prepare ourselves to compete in the best way. This is my concern. We thought we were ready to compete but we didn't compete in the way the competition demanded.

"We didn't show that we were playing for something important. That's what makes me angry and disappointed. Even if we are a young team and need to learn, these types of games make me very angry."

This game presents him with the opportunity to see if his players paid attention to his anger and if they have learnt the lessons of going into big games mentally ready and physically prepared. Newcastle are wounded lions, they have lost the one thing they so desired this season and they are here to make up for lost pride and that sets this up perfectly for those who want it more. Progress is not always a straight curve but you have to learn your lessons along the way, this will tell us that Chelsea have learnt theirs.

Buy time after a tough start to a billion-pound project

One of the things that gave Mikel Arteta credit in the bank when the tough days arrived at Arsenal was the fact that he'd won the FA Cup months after walking through the door at the Emirates. Every top manager in the world has those moments when their back is against the wall and they pull the chestnuts out of a blazing fire. The League Cup might not be the most decorative trophy Chelsea will ever win but this is crucial for this project. Chelsea can barely afford another season out of Europe and this is another route to European football, they've got to stay in it and win it.

Pochettino needs to keep this team in this competition, he has to find a way to keep these fans engaged and rescue some pride that should be the fuel that takes his team into the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

"Of course, I want to win a trophy here in England. I want to lift a trophy now in this competition because it is important. My wish and I desire to win and this is one of the competitions we are involved in and it is possible. We need to respect our opponents, Newcastle are going to be tough, and we deserve to go through to the semi-final," the Chelsea manager said ahead of the game this evening.

All the taking has been done, and now is the time for the Argentinian to show his bosses who have backed him as the right man to get the best out of this hurriedly assembled talented squad that he deserves all the backing he's got.