CHELSEA’s poor defending lost them three more vital points at home, this time in a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
But it was a slight tactical instruction from Liam Rosenior that made things simple for Newcastle and Anthony Gordon.
When ex-Chelsea boy Tino Livramento picked up the ball in his own half, there seemed little sign of threat to the Blues’ goal.
But when Rosenior instructed his defenders to push up higher as a defensive unit, Joe Willock pounced.
His well-timed run was found by a perfect Livramento pass, and he had what felt like a hundred yards of open space in front of him to run into, despite being hunted down by Reece James.
Rosenior’s guidance caused that space, but the blame can’t be entirely pinned on him.
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Trevoh Chalobah is way too far to the left hand side of defence, in the position Marc Cucurella should be in, and the defending on the whole is a mess.
While Reece James is well beaten by Willock, he at least forces him into a pass to Gordon to his left.
Which is where Wesley Fofana comes into play.
The Frenchman’s starting position is significantly ahead of Gordon when he starts his run towards goal.
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Gordon, of course, is quicker than Fofana, but the Chelsea defender looks as though he’s strolling through the park instead of tracking his man.
Gordon ends up significantly in front of Fofana, and there is no challenge on the winger as he takes a touch before finishing into an empty net.
Even Gordon himself was surprised at the amount of space his side had, thanks to Chelsea’s man-to-man defending and poor positioning when trying to do so.
He told the Premier League: “Chelsea were playing man-for-man so we knew we could get behind them, but it did seem very open.”
Defensively, it was a goal that highlights the Blues’ issues.
A lack of cohesion, a poorly timed instruction, too little communication, and a lack of concentration.
Not traits that bode well for the visit of PSG in three days’ time, with their hopes of playing Champions League football potentially hanging on a remontada.
You wouldn’t be entirely comfortable betting against Rosenior’s side being capable of scoring three at home against the European champions.
But your money would feel pretty safe in terms of PSG grabbing at least one goal away from home.
And if Rosenior tries that high line again against Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and co, things could get messy again…
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