Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been very critical of Wesley Fofana, Reece James and the rest of Chelsea’s team.
The Blues were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United over the weekend, but Carragher has suggested that it was totally avoidable.
Since then, James has picked up a hamstring injury, meaning that he will miss Tuesday night’s game against Paris Saint-Germain.
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Ousmane Dembele talking about Chelsea
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Jamie Carragher tells Wesley Fofana and Reece James to stop looking for Liam Rosenior all the time
The goal that Chelsea conceded against Newcastle came after the Blues failed to react to a mistake high up the pitch.
They allowed the ball to go into a Newcastle player inside and did very little after that. It left Carragher far from impressed, with the Liverpool legend feeling that James and Co were waiting for Liam Rosenior to tell them what to do after the mistake.
For Carragher, that has to stop. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “In terms of Fofana and [Trevoh] Chalobah and Reece James, right? They are all better players than me in almost everything: physically, height, power, pace. People can say that.
“But this is why I played football, I would not have allowed that to happen because I would have made sure somebody reacted. Stop looking for your coach for instructions. You’re a coach on the pitch!”
Jamie Carragher during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
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Chelsea would love to bounce back from that disappointing result with a win against PSG, but the odds are really against them.
James is out injured and they are 5-2 down after the first leg. Even if the Blues win, progression to the quarter-finals seems highly unlikely. Ousmane Dembele really rates Chelsea, but they have been lacklustre of late.
Wesley Fofana the biggest culprit for Newcastle goal
Carragher is also unlikely to be happy with Fofana’s defending just before Newcastle’s winner.
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The Frenchman did not even try to chase down Anthony Gordon, who darted into Chelsea’s box before converting the Magpies’ chance.
Jamie Redknapp tore into Fofana for his role in the goal, and his criticism was certainly warranted.
After that moment and his display at the Parc des Princes last week, Fofana should be dropped for the visit of PSG. However, on paper, he is one of Chelsea’s better centre-halves, so that seems unlikely.
Rosenior will probably continue with the France international and Chalobah in central defence. If he does, the former has to improve.
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