Wednesday night provided a huge shock in the Premier League when Leeds United hosted Chelsea at Elland Road. Coming into the game, it seemed like almost nothing was working for the Whites.
Their last two results in the league saw them lose in very painful fashion; a late free kick by Morgan Rogers sealed three points for Aston Villa, and an injury time strike from Phil Foden gave Manchester City a victory last weekend.
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Before Wednesday night, news emerged that Daniel Farke’s future was on the line prior to the game, so the pressure was on. The Whites came out of the gates flying as Jaka Bijol headed them into the lead after just six minutes. Ao Tanaka added a second just before half-time. It looked like Chelsea could have gotten something from the game when Pedro Neto pulled on back, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the game late in the second half.
Former Chelsea man still furious after Leeds United defeat
There were some mixed reactions after the result; with Gary Neville saying Chelsea lost because they underrated the home side. Enzo Maresca admitted his team were outplayed on the night.
Former Chelsea man Jason Cundy however was furious after the loss. He delivered another rant about the match on TalkSport:
“Leeds weren’t brilliant, they didn’t have to do anything. We (Chelsea) were terrible, I can not defend that performance.
“When you look at what Estêvão had to come up against, that is his toughest encounter. They were playing five at the back, so they had Gudmundsson who could go out, and he had cover in behind.
“They got it right, but they weren’t brilliant Leeds. I can’t give them any credit, I’m sorry, I just can’t give them any credit.
“That was like a Championship game for them. They won a Championship game because we put in a Championship performance.”
The Whites delivered a solid performance
Leeds were brilliant on Wednesday night, both on and off the ball. They made the game very physical for Chelsea, who had no answer. Farke’s decision to opt for a more counter attacking game opened up so many chances for his side.
But the most impressive thing was how the hosts limited the Blues. Leeds conceded just 0.96 expected goals (xG) and one big chance during the 90 minutes. They kept them out of their penalty box and limited them to few chances. This game should be something the team builds on before they face Liverpool over the weekend.
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