Jason Cundy has praised both Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah for their performances against Manchester United.The Blues slipped to their first defeat of the season at Old Trafford as they went down 2-...
Jason Cundy has praised both Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah for their performances against Manchester United.
The Blues slipped to their first defeat of the season at Old Trafford as they went down 2-1 against United, with their wait for a first win at the famous ground since 2013 extended.
The defeat leaves Chelsea seven points behind leaders Liverpool after just five games, and compounds a miserable week in which they drew to Brentford and lost to Bayern Munich.
Jason Cundy praises Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James
Enzo Maresca fielded Estevao and Cole Palmer from the off for the first time, whilst Wesley Fofana was handed his first start of the season at centre back.
Chelsea started the game poorly, which was compounded by Robert Sanchez getting sent off after four minutes for taking out Bryan Mbeumo.
Chalobah scored a late consolation goal for Chelsea. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Maresca responded by withdrawing both Estevao and Pedro Neto and switching to a back five, a system Chelsea haven’t played under him.
Cole Palmer was forced off after 20 minutes through injury to compound Chelsea’s misery, leaving the Blues with one attacker on the pitch, and struggling to get back into the game after Casemiro got sent off.
Chelsea had a go towards the end and pulled a goal back through Chalobah, but there were few positives on the night, although Cundy singled out two players for praise.
“There has been one or two individual performances,” he told Chelsea’s official app.
“I think Trev has done as best as he can. I think Reece has done as best as he can. But we never recovered from that early red card, that is the truth.
“We didn’t do enough. For me, that second-half performance was as disappointing as the first half because it was 10v10”
Chelsea in trouble defensively
Chelsea for the third game in a row conceded at least two goals, which has got to be a worry for Maresca, given the Blues had the third best defensive record in the league last season.
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The loss of Levi Colwill to an ACL injury was huge, and despite public pleas from Maresca, Chelsea didn’t sign a new centre back.
It now appears the Blues are paying the price for that, and there is a lack of top quality at the back, with Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo arguably squad players, whilst it’s unclear what level Fofana will get back to.
Category: General Sports
