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Five lessons learnt during Chelsea’s come-back EFL Cup win over Leicester

By The Pride of London Staff

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea celebrates with team mates after scoring his sides third goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Chelsea at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Cesc Fabregas of Chelsea celebrates with team mates after scoring his sides third goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Chelsea at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Gary Cahill of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s opening goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Chelsea at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Gary Cahill of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team’s opening goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Leicester City and Chelsea at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /

Defenders can’t defend, but they can score! – Dan McClue

Since the start of the 2015/16 season it has been clear to all (apart from the board) that Chelsea need new defenders. Centre-backs in particular have been the biggest problem.

Against Leicester this was no different. Gary Cahill and David Luiz were the two entrusted to protect Asmir Begovic and the Chelsea goal. They did very little to honour this.

Both made numerous mistakes and scrambled to cover each other. Leicester were clinical on two occasions, wasteful on others. Begovic bailed them both out at one point with a fantastic save on Ahmed Musa.

While the defenders can’t defend, they can sure as hell score. Cahill is dominant in the air. This paid dividends when Leicester foolishly left him unmarked at the back-post on a Fabregas corner.

A well-placed header, sending it back the way it came moments before halftime changed the shape of the game. There is a big difference between going in for a halftime team-talk at 2-0 and 2-1.

When Chelsea emerged from the changing room for the second half they needed only four minutes to find an equaliser. Cesar Azpilicueta pulled something out of a bag I’m convinced he didn’t even know he had. Volleying home from 20 yards showed technique any striker would be proud of.

After two of Chelsea’s defenders had atoned for their errors and dragged the team back level they left it to the attackers to finish the business in extra-time.

Job done.

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