Chelsea produced a poor performance against Leeds United on Wednesday evening with Enzo Maresca expected to make numerous changes for when his side travel down to Bournemouth on Saturday
Chelsea were given a brutal reality check on Wednesday evening. After the highs of beating Barcelona and drawing with Premier League leaders Arsenal, where the Blues spent the majority of the 90 minutes with a man less than the Gunners, Leeds United stunned Enzo Maresca’s side at Elland Road.
Traditionally a difficult place to go, but Chelsea continuously shot themselves in the foot on Wednesday with avoidable mistakes costing the visitors in Yorkshire. A game where Maresca made five changes to his side, one forced with Moises Caicedo suspended, and Leeds took advantage of what looked like uncertainty in the Chelsea team.
Those who came into the side did not step up. “I think tonight’s game, there is no one that was at this level or the best level,” said Maresca post-match. “I think all the teams, all the ones probably, Pedro [Neto], second-half, Garna [Alejandro Garnacho], second-half, they were our best players, because after we scored the goal, we had two chances with Cole [Palmer] and with Joao [Pedro], but then the third goal killed the game.”
As Maresca mentioned, two of the only bright sparks for Chelsea at Elland Road were Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho. Neto came on at half-time for Estevao Willian, who had been booked in the first-half, and immediately made an impact for the visitors. The Portugal international halved the deficit for the Blues to give them some hope in Yorkshire, with Chelsea pushing for an equaliser.
Cole Palmer and Garnacho both came on to try and help Maresca’s men get just that. Garnacho looked really bright and should have had an assist, where he pulled the ball back to Palmer, who was disappointed he could not guide his shot on target.
Both Neto and Garnacho have put themselves in big contention to return to the XI at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. Estevao, who was quiet in the first 45 minutes before being hooked, and Jamie Gittens, who showed glimpses of his ability in Leeds, could drop out of the lineup down on the south coast.
Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana is set to return to the side against the Cherries. The French defender did not travel with the squad up to Yorkshire, with Maresca looking to manage the centre-back’s minutes given his injury troubles in the past, football.london understands.
Reece James did travel to Elland Road but the Chelsea captain did not get on the pitch with Maresca looking to protect him after an all-action performance against Arsenal just over 72 hours before. James is too set to return to the side, and we could once again see the England international used in midfield with Caicedo serving the second game of his three-match Premier League suspension.
Malo Gusto, also, has a big case to return to the XI on Saturday afternoon. Maresca went with Trevoh Chalobah at right-back from the start at Elland Road on Wednesday night but it was an experiment that failed. Chalobah then moved back into the middle at half-time, with Gusto coming on at right-back.
They are five changes Maresca could – and should – make to his side for the trip to the Vitality. Whatever side he puts out, though, should have more than enough quality to return to winning ways.
