The question on everyone’s lips at the end of the EFL Cup semi-final second leg was whether Chelsea went about their gameplan in the right way.
Liam Rosenior named an extremely defensive side from the start, picking a back five for the first time in his Chelsea career.
He also started a number of players out of position, which didn’t work to their advantage. Chelsea got nothing from Enzo Fernandez off the left, while Liam Delap looked awkward at best, and out of his depth at worst on the right-wing.
Is Liam Delap not good enough for Chelsea or are we not playing to his strengths?🤔
Liam Delap's display vs Arsenal
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
The plan was clearly for the Blues to attack the final 30 minutes of the tie while still in the game, bringing on Estevao Willian, Cole Palmer and Alejandro Garnacho.
Arsenal v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
When Kai Havertz rolled the ball in against his former side to put the semi-final to bed, some were left wondering what was the point behind Chelsea’s approach. However, there are a few factors that need to be considered…
Liam Rosenior – an unfortunate tactical genius
Rosenior’s only defeat in charge before Tuesday night came in the first leg against Arsenal, and in truth his side were lucky to be just a goal down after the meeting at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues took the game to Mikel Arteta’s men, although were lucky to restrict their opponents to just three goals on the day. A different approach was required for a trip to the Emirates.
There comes a point where some sections of the fanbase need to accept some home truths. Arsenal are a better side than Chelsea at the moment, and a more successful European history that supporters like to boast about will not change that fact in the immediate future.
Did Rosenior get his tactics wrong against Arteta? 🤔
Hindsight is a wonderful thing…
As well as a different approach being needed, Rosenior had a number of injury concerns to deal with. It would’ve been far easier to play on the counter attack for example if Pedro Neto had been fit.
It would be interesting to see what the verdict on Chelsea’s performance was if the game had ended 0-0. Havertz’s goal was trivial, and didn’t change the opinion of the players who featured.
Trevoh Chalobah believed the tactics worked as planned, and Declan Rice hinted Chelsea were unlucky not to score in the second leg against an Arsenal side who were clearly taken aback by their approach.
Liam Rosenior – a naive insult to Chelsea supporters
Whatever Rosenior decided to do last night, he would have been criticised if it had not paid off. He even admitted after the game he could have gone toe-to-toe with the Gunners.
Paul Merson in particular was scathing of Chelsea’s approach to proceedings, not understanding why they refused to have a go in a semi-final second leg.
Admit it, you miss Nicolas Jackson 😢
Liam Delap has been a huge disappointment!
Liam Delap's and Nicolas Jackson's stats
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images/Kevin Voigt
There was surprise that a game of that magnitude saw Palmer and Estevao both on the bench. Even in an attempt to nullify their opponents, it feels as if they were desperately lacking a source of creativity.
Blues supporters are used to winning things since the turn of the century. Even in this trophy-starved few years, they have still delivered the Club World Cup and Conference League.
It is a brave decision to not go into a game against your arch-rivals without any real chance of scoring for two thirds of it, and there will be some who are outraged at that decision.
Rosenior will be judged on how the Blues finish in the Premier League. Maintaining their spot in the Champions League places is seen as a priority.
Their next game comes against 20th placed Wolves though, one where rotation would likely be possible for a side who would’ve gone all guns blazing against Arsenal five days earlier.
What do you think? Did Rosenior get things drastically wrong? Or was he making the best of an unfortunate situation? Get involved and let us know on TalkingPoints.
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