Axel Disasi has offered a potential reason behind Chelsea’s defensive identity crisis, admitting to Carlton Cole that the squad is still reeling from the leadership vacuum left by Thiago Silva’s departure.
Despite Chelsea‘s impressive record under Liam Rosenior, winning eight, drawing two, and losing two against Arsenal, there are some underlying issues.
The main issue is Chelsea’s defensive frailties, having let winning situations slip against Leeds United and Burnley of late, and it’s even crept into the Under-21 side too.
An unsettled back line hasn’t helped. Marc Cucurella is currently out injured and Liam Rosenior has chopped and changed his central defenders due to fitness and injury issues.
However, Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi has suggested it stems from the issue of not replacing Thiago Silva.
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Axel Disasi points at Thiago Silva’s exit for Chelsea suffering
Speaking on the Dressing Room, podcast Carlton Cole said that Axel Disasi has told him that since Thiago Silva‘s exit, it’s just been left down to the Chelsea players at the club to lead.
“When I spoke to Axel Disasi, he was talking about who he enjoyed it cause he was obviously at Chelsea. He’s at West Ham now on loan. Doing great by the way.
“And I got talking to him. He basically said that Thiago Silva, when he was ther,e was the voice of reason, like the big brother, the uncle. And then when he left that, all kind of went cause there was no experience to lean on. So they’re all leaning on each other, and they’re not experienced enough to lean on each other.
“So they have to look at each other as we’re all in this together.”
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Thiago Silva’s absence continues to be felt at Chelsea
The void left by Thiago Silva at Stamford Bridge has gone from a sentimental loss to a structural catastrophe. While Axel Disasi’s recent comments to Carlton Cole highlighted the leadership void, the reality is that Chelsea’s hierarchy made a gamble by assuming potential could replace experience.
Silva wasn’t just a defender; he was a defensive coordinator who led from the front in the toughest of situations. Without his positioning and constant vocal instructions, Chelsea’s backline now looks like a collection of talented individuals who are incapable of managing the boring parts of the game.
The recent collapse against Burnley was a perfect example. A team with a true defensive leader doesn’t miss a marking assignment in the 93rd minute.
It comes as no coincidence that Antonio Rudiger named Silva in his all-time XI.
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