Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday was a stark reminder of the Blues’ defensive vulnerabilities. While Enzo Maresca’s men started brightly, taking the lead after just three minutes, their backline was ultimately breached with ease by the hosts.
At the heart of Chelsea’s defensive struggles was Levi Colwill, who endured a torrid afternoon against the irrepressible Erling Haaland. The young English centre-back was dominated by the Norwegian striker, failing to make a single tackle or interception throughout the contest.
Colwill’s stats at the Etihad made for grim reading, with the 20-year-old committing one error that led to a shot and finishing the game with a dismal Sofascore rating of 5.7. It was, by some distance, his worst performance in a Chelsea shirt.
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In contrast, Manchester City debutant Abdukodir Khusanov recovered well from a shaky start, making a crucial block against Jadon Sancho that could have altered the course of the game. While Khusanov’s mistakes were glaring, Colwill’s struggles were more pronounced, particularly in his one-on-one battles with Haaland.
The Chelsea faithful have every right to be concerned about their team’s defensive frailties, which have now seen them drop out of the top four and into sixth place. With Champions League qualification far from guaranteed, Maresca’s men must shore up their backline and quickly.
Colwill, in particular, will be eager to put this display behind him and rediscover the form that has made him a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge. The young defender’s ability to play neat passes into midfield and out to the left channel is undoubted, but his defensive shortcomings must be addressed if Chelsea are to achieve their ambitions this season.
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