Xabi Alonso has taken responsibility for Chelsea’s alarming first-half performance against Leeds United and refused to blame the fringe players he selected.
Chelsea eventually produced a remarkable 6-3 Carabao Cup victory over Leeds after falling two goals behind at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso made nine changes and handed several squad players opportunities, including 16-year-old Reggie Watson, before turning to Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James to rescue the tie.
The Chelsea head coach believes some of the responsibility for those early struggles belongs with him.
“For sure, I take responsibility for a lot of them; no player to blame, it’s the decisions that we took,” Alonso said.
Alonso admits Chelsea changes made things difficult
Chelsea were trailing 1-0 at half-time before Leeds doubled their advantage shortly after the restart.
Alonso had already responded ruthlessly by making four substitutions at the interval.
The difference was immediate.
Palmer scored twice before Neto put Chelsea ahead, while Rogers eventually produced three assists during an extraordinary second-half turnaround.
ReadChelsea has analysed how three assists in 45 minutes underlined Rogers’ importance.
Alonso nevertheless rejected the suggestion that the first half proved Chelsea’s fringe players were simply not at the required level.
“Maybe I made it too difficult because it’s a strong side,” he said.
“I will have a deeper assessment about how I can help players that they are not playing that much, to have a better impact.”
That is an important distinction.
The Chelsea team selected against Leeds contained numerous players who had barely played together competitively.
Alonso now accepts that putting so many of them together at once may have prevented individuals from showing their real level.
Chelsea’s strongest players rescue Alonso
The response from Chelsea’s established players was emphatic.
Palmer and Rogers transformed the attacking tempo, while James added experience after replacing Malo Gusto.
Alonso admitted the impact of his substitutes was good but refused to accept a “cynical” interpretation that Chelsea cannot rely on their wider squad.
He instead pointed back to his own team selection.
“I know that probably I haven’t taken the right decisions for them to show their best levels,” Alonso said.
“It’s something that I will analyse and learn from today.”
Alonso also defended Danny Welbeck, who continues to take his opportunities despite Joao Pedro remaining the preferred Premier League striker.
Welbeck scored twice against Leeds and now has three goals in this season’s Carabao Cup.
Chelsea ultimately progressed, but the first half has given Alonso an early lesson in how far he can push squad rotation.
With Hull City and Brentford to come before the international break, he may not have long to put that lesson into practice.
Three assists in 45 minutes show Morgan Rogers’ Chelsea importance
Three assists in 45 minutes show Morgan Rogers’ Chelsea importance
Xabi Alonso gives Valentin Barco verdict before Leeds selection call
Xabi Alonso gives Valentin Barco verdict before Leeds selection call