Chelsea were not at their best against Leicester City over the weekend, especially going forward.
Enzo Maresca‘s men were only able to score one goal, with Cole Palmer failing from the spot for the first time in a blue shirt.
However, Chelsea were able to keep a clean sheet in their win, thanks to Levi Colwill and the rest of the backline.
The central defender has come in for criticism lately, but he did his part in a victory that has seen his team climb back to fourth in the Premier League table.
Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill wins most aerial duels in latest gameweek
Liverpool are interested in signing Colwill, but Chelsea will not want to sell him this summer.
The 22-year-old has been an important player for Maresca this season and proved that once again in the Blues’ 1-0 win against Leicester.
Colwill, who has featured in all but two of Chelsea’s Premier League games, was aerially dominant last time out.
In fact, according to WhoScored, the Englishman won eight aerial duels, more than any other player in the English top flight this gameweek.
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It is good to hear, especially after Colwill was heavily criticised by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher last month.
Chelsea were beaten 3-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion, and neither Neville nor Carragher held back when giving their assessment of the England international.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Jamie Carragher does not think Colwill is ‘powerful enough’
There was one phase of play during Chelsea’s defeat at the Amex Stadium where Colwill was shoved off the ball.
The Chelsea academy graduate asked for a foul instead of getting up and running back to stop Brighton’s attack, something he will regret.
The Seagulls ended up scoring after that incident, leaving Carragher far from impressed with Colwill.
After Neville claimed that Colwill had to get stronger, Carragher responded: “He doesn’t look powerful enough in the kit.”
Brutal, but the Liverpool legend’s criticism has grounds. Colwill can be guilty of getting knocked off the ball too easily and whinging about it instead of trying to correct his error.
However, what the Leicester game showed is that Colwill does possess some power — you do not win eight aerial duels without it. He just needs to start displaying more of it and consistently.