Chelsea are into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after a crazy 6-3 win over Leeds at Stamford Bridge.
Xabi Alonso rang the changes for the match, bringing in 16 year old Reggie Watson, Levi Colwill, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Pep Chavarria, Mike Penders, Danny Welbeck and Valentín Barco.
The first half was poor by all accounts. The blues created just 0.31 xG (expected goals) and went into the break at half time 1-0 down after a Tarik Muharemvic header.
Quadruple change turns around fortunes
The Stamford Bridge crowed booed the team off at half time but were quickly rejuvenated once Alonso introduced a quadruple change of Reece James, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Pedro Neto to begin the second half.
Though, Chelsea actually found themselves 2-0 down before this crazy comeback.
Valentín Barco, who had a great game overall, had the ball snatched off him, which then lead to former Blue Ethan Ampadu cutting back for Brendan Aaronson after good one versus one play on Morgan Rogers.
Stamford Bridge was still not as frustrated as the first half however. When you have the big hitters on the pitch and you see Chelsea scoring as freely as they have been under Alonso, there is always hope.
That proved to be the case again tonight, with Cole Palmer dispatching a quick fire double to bring Chelsea level on 55 minutes. The first, a penalty after Pep Chavarria was fouled in the box. The second, a lovely curled first time finish after Morgan Rogers flicked the ball into his path.
Pedro Neto completed the comeback to make it 3-2 five minutes later, curling in a first time effort as Chelsea broke quickly on the counter again - a trademark theme under Alonso so far.
Feed The Welbz and he will score
Danny Welbeck added the fourth in the match to make it 4-2 to Chelsea. He ended up bagging another to seal the 6-3 victory, but let’s get to this one first…
The English veteran seems like a typical fox in the box style striker. He struggled to make an impact in the first half because he did not have the service.
It is perhaps natural that he, Estevao and Gittens did not have the upmost chemistry given the lack of together.
However, Welbeck came alive when Rogers and Palmer came on. There was more link up play and a better understanding of each others movement.
Rogers turned provider for his first goal, driving down the right hand side before cutting back in the box to Welbeck who took two touches away from the Leeds defenders to create separation before drilling home.
He helped wrap up the victory with a header which he may not have known much about after Valentín Barco’s volley bounced off his head into the net, but he can take credit from the fact he was in the right place at the right time.
And being in the right place at the right time is what describes Welbeck best. He is 36 years old and has been brought in to do a job when Chelsea need a goal. He is doing that job, with three in two league cup games so far.
Chelsea’s forwards other than Palmer and Rogers must recognise that Welbeck is not Joao Pedro, he cannot facilitate their game by dropping deep or making lung busting runs. It is up to them to provide Welbeck sensible, close quarter service. He is an old fashioned striker.
Defensive woes continue
On a negative end of the stick, Chelsea are still conceding a lot of goals. So many of which seem avoidable. Simple pressing mistakes, lack of tracking of runners, mis timed tackles, set pieces or a lack of winning an initial duel that leads to a goal.
One common theme above all though is the underlap runs and overloads down the flanks. If Alonso is going to stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation, then he simply needs to drill spacing into the players. He has extra time on the training ground at the moment and there is not really any excuse to be conceding so many goals.
It is too easy for opposition teams to get at Chelsea, particularly down the flanks, as said. It is now ten goals conceded in five matches, and two more tonight came from cutbacks down the flanks.
While it is fun to watch matches as there is so many goals, this football is not sustainable in the Premier League long term.
There is a resemblance to Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea at the moment. That is not good. Though some pretended it was.
Alonso takes accountability
A positive sign for those, like myself, who are worried about Chelsea’s defensive woes getting in the way of a very good season could be encouraged by the fact that Xabi Alonso was first to take accountability and responsibility for tonight.
Now, his quotes were more related to the lineup choices, but a man as smart as Alonso must also know that Chelsea cannot be conceding so many goals and relying on outscoring teams if he wants to bring sustained success back to Stamford Bridge.
On the lineup rotation, Alonso said: "I need to take my own blame and my own responsibility on the things that happen, I need to be able to help them better so they are not responsible, and after you need to react and think what's better for the team."
What’s best for the team was to bring on Chelsea’s big hitters at half time, and he did.
It may have seemed obvious to many watching, but both the ruthlessness and awareness to make the required changes at the interval should be applauded.
Hull provide another tough test
It was important for Chelsea to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, especially with no European Football. Still, the attention will quickly turn back to the Premier League, with Hull City visiting London on Saturday.
The Tigers were many people’s favourites to go down. They still might of course, but by early season form they are more likely to be the Sunderland of last year and end up competing for European spots come the end of the season.
With zero goals conceded and only one in all competitions, Hull will provide a tough test for Chelsea. Alonso and his men must prepare for a compact block of five defenders and 4 midfielders, with McBurnie likely holding it down upfront on his own.
Saturday could be decided by individual brilliance, which Chelsea have plenty of. Though the wingback system may not be favourable in this matchup unless both are traditional wingers.
Alonso will likely have to rely on one verses one take on ability as Hull force sides out wide. It may be time for Chelsea’s manager to show some tactical flexibility and move to a 4-2-3-1 system on Saturday.
On paper, there does not seem to be a need for three centre backs in this matchup, and the ball possession percentage is likely to sky rocket.
Chelsea will need as many creative attackers on the pitch as they can to unlock Hull’s bullish off ball setup, led by their manager Sergej Jakirovic.
