Chelsea Leeds United
Not a lot of people would have predicted the result when Chelsea visited Leeds United midweek. Coming into the game, both sides had completely different form.
The Whites had lost four league games in a row and were desperate to put some points on the board. Chelsea on the other hand were slowly climbing up the table, and wanted to maintain the gap behind Arsenal. So when the Blues came to Elland Road, everyone was expecting a straightforward result.
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Leeds shocked everyone when Jaka Bijol gave them the lead in the first six minutes of the game with a powerful header. Ao Tanaka doubled the lead just minutes before the half-time break. Pedro Neto pulled on back early in the second period with the away fans thinking a comeback was on. Leeds however, held firm and Dominic Calvert-Lewin put the game out of reach in the 72nd minute.
Daniel Farke’s side are now temporary out of the relegation zone after that big win.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca surprised by how Leeds United played at Elland Road
Many will be wondering how the home side pulled off such a result; Gary Neville said Chelsea underestimated the hosts and rightly got punished for it. But Farke’s side leaned more into their physicality on the night. Blues boss Enzo Maresca was surprised at how good the Whites were on and off the ball:
“They were better than us in every aspect and deserved to win. We can take nothing from this game.
“All we can do is try to understand the mistakes we have done and try to reset.
“I hope we had a bad night because it’s a game you struggle to take something from.
“Leeds United were on the ball, off the ball, duels, second balls, much better than us in all the aspects.”
The Chelsea boss then added that young Brazilian star Estevao could not handle what Leeds threw at him all night. Maresca’s teenage winger left the game without a goal and assist and picked up a yellow card after a cynical foul out of frustration.
“The feeling with Estevao was a little bit like: ‘welcome to Premier League and welcome to Leeds’.
“The impact has been big for him and the reason we changed him was his yellow card.
“Sometimes at 18 you struggle to manage your emotions, so better to change him in this game.”
Farke might have found the solution
In the summer, many noted that Leeds were recruiting players for their height and size. A number of first team additions checked the boxes for these qualities. Early in the season, the Whites leaned on this and played a more direct style which brought results. However, Daniel Farke opted for a more controlled style as the season went on, and things did not really go well.
If this game, and the result at the Etihad over the weekend prove anything, it is that Leeds need to go more direct. They have players who are really good in the air and in duels and need to exploit them more in order to win games.
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