After a good start to the season by both Leeds and Chelsea, the two teams lined out at Elland road looking to improve on the their good start to the season. Chelsea started the brighter of both teams and played their way out of Leeds’ relentless pressure for the first 20 minutes creating goalscoring opportunities which were spurned by Raheem Sterling and Loftus-Cheek all to the dismay of an onlooking Thomas Tuchel.
With the game taking a more even affair after the first set of chances for the blues, Leeds’ high press paid dividends as American international Brenden Aaronson profited from an Eduoard Mendy howler to put the team from Yorkshire ahead. A Few minutes later (37th minute) with Leeds on the front foot and Chelsea rattled, Marc Roca won a free kick on the edge of the box which was swung in by Jack Harrison for Rodrigo Moreno to head home and pile on the misery for Chelsea once again through a set-piece.
Chelsea managed to hold on for the remainder of the first half with TT making structural changes as the second period started off with a more improved performance from the blues which brought about a few more chances but failure to be decisive in and around the Leeds’ penalty area meant Meslier in the Leeds goal had little or nothing to do in the second.
Leeds would go on to secure victory with Jack Harrison getting a goal of his on the 69th minute mark just as the blues made attacking substitutions (Ziyech and Pulisic) hoping to get back into the game, which eventually had little affect as Leeds went onto win 3-0.
Lessons learned as Leeds rampage blues :
◦ Kante and Kovaciç sorely missed :
With a team adopting a system of constant high press on its opposition like Leeds did against the blues, the dynamic duo of Kante and Kovaciç would have made a huge difference in the middle of the park for the blues.
A partnership of Jorginho and Gallagher held the “engine room” for Tuchel’s side at Elland road and both were run ragged by the diamond of Rodrigo, Roca, Adams and Dan james, with all four players taking up positions
to hurt the midfielders for TT.
On countless occasions was Jorginho left exposed by Gallagher’s poor positioning and Jorginho himself struggled to get anywhere close enough to hurt Leeds attacking players when they had the ball as he was dribbled past virtually on every occasion.
TT certainly depends a lot on the duo of Kante and Kovaciç (KK) and with both out with injury, Tuchel and his staff can only hope both players return to full fitness soon enough.
◦ Mendy’s Dilemma :
A problem that has always looked evident enough for all to see is Mendy’s poor foot work.
The Senegalese has always looked like a disaster waiting to happen with the ball at his feet and opponents seem to be looking to take full advantage of that side of his game.
Before the “own goal” as TT described it, Mendy did get lucky with a dribble off a fast press led by Rodrigo before the calamity happened moments later with the goalie attempting a dribble again this time against Aaronson who won the ball back and had the simplest of tasks, tucking the ball into an empty net. Mendy’s problems with the ball at his feet has cost the blues on the biggest of occasions with the quarter-final game against Madrid last season coming to mind.
With Kepa available on the bench, TT has a huge choice to make with games coming thick and fast now whether he keeps faith with Edou or goes to give Kepa a chance at reclaiming the number one spot, is it only fair that Kepa gets a chance?
◦ Havertz Slow Start A Problem :
Kai Havertz is well documented to have always had slow starts to a league season and with three games gone by now, that doesn’t look like changing any time soon with the German yet to register any goal scoring contribution (Goal and assist). With the return of Armando Broja to the first team setup at Chelsea, Kai has to step up in the next games and get running for the season else it could be time to give the Cobham graduate a consistent run in the team.
Rumours of a move for Aubamayeng also should send signals to Kai that he has to step up and get back to the scorer/assister charts pretty soon to avoid taking a place on the subs bench, how much longer can we give Havertz?
◦ Loftus-Cheek keeps fighting :
Of the wholesome disappointing pack at Elland road, only a couple of players could look back and admit to giving a decent enough performance against Jesse March’s Leeds team. Former Fulham loanee, RLC gave another brilliant account of himself with a good performance firstly as a RWB and then as a Midfielder when TT changed his team’s structure.
Aside taking too many touches in the Leeds penalty area when he could have shot directly at goal, the England international did well at various parts of the game. His dribbling, strength and power helped in beating Leeds’ press a couple of times while also advancing a couple of attacks with his dribbling in the middle of the park.
TT already acknowledges RLC’s improvement and he’d be happy to see him produce performances of this such on a weekly basis to finally stamp his place in this present squad.
◦ Set-pieces a lingering problem :
Since the start of the season with 3 games gone now, Chelsea have conceded 2 goals from set-pieces and could have conceded more if Mendy hadn’t been on hand to save some decent efforts in the game against Everton, Spurs and now Leeds. Crosses into the box and aerial battles seem to demand so much from the blues with teams now exploiting the aerial deficiencies in the blues’ team.
Against Everton, Mendy pulled out a brilliant save to deny Mina and Doucoure headers and Kane got ahead of everyone in a congested box to head home an equalizer last week and now Rodrigo’s brilliant movement and run also meant he got ahead of everyone to head past Mendy in goal. With games against “bigger” and more dominant teams still to come, TT has to find solutions to combat Chelsea’s poor defending
of set-pieces.
Man of the Match : RLC 6/10
Next up for Chelsea is a home game at the Bridge against Leicester city on Saturday, 3pm UK time
