If Chelsea fans were asked about their side’s chances of beating Man City at half-time, it would have been a largely optimistic response. The reality is that Chelsea suffered a 3-0 hammering.
The first half saw Chelsea edge proceedings. While City dominated possession and passes, they offered little in the final third. By contrast, Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action on a few occasions.
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Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
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Marc Cucurella was inches away from opening the scoring, only to be ruled offside. But the second half saw City go up a gear, and Chelsea simply did not have the quality of organisation to deal with it.
Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi, and Jeremy Doku all scored goals as Chelsea imploded. But it was City’s opener that highlighted Chelsea’s biggest defensive problem, the club’s inability to defend from crosses.
Nico O’Reilly goal highlights something Chelsea have got to fix
Rayan Cherki clipped a hopeful ball into the box, hoping a teammate might get on the end of it. O’Reilly was there to pounce, offering strength to win some space and then powering home a perfect header.
Chelsea v Manchester City - Premier League
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But it was something Chelsea fans have seen before this season: defending from crosses. Whether it be set-pieces or from open play, Chelsea have now conceded 12 goals from crosses in the Premier League.
That is the fifth-worst in the Premier League. Below Chelsea are teams already relegated, or threatened with relegation. Burnley and Wolves are in the bottom three, while Leeds and West Ham have let in more.
But for a side currently in the race for the Champions League to be the next-worst is a clear anomaly, and highlights just how poor the Blues have been from defending crosses. City exploited that on Sunday.
What is Chelsea’s best centre-back partnership?
Fofana and Hato couldn't stop City.
What do Chelsea need to do to fix the problem?
The main problem is that Chelsea are too weak at centre-back. Levi Colwill’s absence is obviously a big blow for Chelsea and with the England star back in the fold, Chelsea will be much stronger at centre-back.
But can Colwill plug the gap all by himself? Chelsea need a commanding defender at the back, one that strikes fear into Premier League strikers and can organise a defence that lacks experience and a leader.
Charlie Austin recently suggested Antonio Rudiger is the best signing Chelsea can make this summer, with the Real Madrid star’s contract due to expire in June. Certainly, Rudiger would improve Chelsea.
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