Steven Gerrard while managing Saudi side Al Ettifaq.
Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images
The feel-good factor is back at Chelsea, and yet one player still cannot go 90 minutes without making a terrible mistake or two. Steven Gerrard has teased Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea bounced back from defeats to Tottenham in the Premier League and Gerrard’s old club Liverpool in the Carabao Cup with a big win over Man United on Saturday. Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored.
But for Fofana, it was another game of mistakes and poor concentration. Xabi Alonso was forced to start with the Frenchman after Maxence Lacroix picked up a hamstring injury during the defeat to Liverpool.
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Steven Gerrard teases Wesley Fofana after error-strewn display
Against Liverpool in the week, Fofana conceded a ridiculous penalty just moments after Morgan Rogers had scored from the spot against the Reds. It saw the game go to a shootout, in which Fofana missed.
It’s hardly a new trend. Fofana got sent off against Burnley last season and allowed the Clarets back in, which was the start of Liam Rosenior’s downfall. He got another red card on the final day at Sunderland.
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We could have been 2 down in the first half and that would have been down to Fofana. Much better 2nd half and brilliant to see a fit Lavia at his best. Estevao probably took his chance but needs to vary his game and not just cut in and shoot.
It’s a shame because he was a monster at Leicester. He’s still a strong and aggressive defender, but I do feel like he gets done so easily.
@caleb.sage If he did, must be because his contract is running down. I can't remember if he's ever had a good 15, let alone 45 since ' the pit pony ' joined us. We gave away Guehi, Chalobah et al to keep him
Mistakes against Newcastle in a 2-2 draw last season have also contributed to Fofana becoming known for his capability of a clanger. On Saturday, he gifted Amad Diallo possession as Chelsea’s last man.
On The Overlap Daily, Gerrard teased Fofana by branding the £70m man as Man United’s best player on Saturday: “They [Man United] were fantastic in the first half. Carrick picked the right team,” he said.
“They could have gone in two or three up; they looked dangerous, organised, much better than Chelsea. Fofana was United’s best player in the first half; he kept getting robbed. Game of two halves for sure.”
Xabi Alonso needs to make a decision on Wesley Fofana
With Josh Acheampong playing as a right-back, Jorrel Hato at left-back, and Lacroix expected to be out until 2027, Chelsea are down to the bare bones at centre-back. Alonso is being forced to use Fofana.
Behind Fofana and Levi Colwill, Chelsea had Tayo Subuloye on the bench, and many fans would prefer to see the Cobham graduate start ahead of Fofana. Aaron Anselmino is working his way back to fitness.
The chances are that Fofana starts again this weekend, when Chelsea go to Sunderland – the same fixture which saw him sent off and ended any hope of Chelsea getting into Europe. But Alonso has to be sure.
Can he trust Fofana to go an entire game without dropping a huge mistake or losing his concentration? Right now, it’s a no – perhaps Alonso would be better off handing a debut to Subuloye this weekend.