Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot emphasizes that he is hesitant to “judge” Liam Rosenior’s team’s performances too quickly and anticipates that their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal will be “even closer.”
In Rosenior’s inaugural home match, the Blues faced a 3-2 loss to their London rivals, Arsenal, in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
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Despite a seemingly improved season, goalkeeper Robert Sanchez struggled with the initial two goals from Arsenal, which put Chelsea under pressure; however, Rosenior refrained from criticizing the Spanish keeper.
“It’s premature to start casting doubt on Sanchez. Everyone makes mistakes,” Melchiot told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
“Rosenior is aware of the mistakes, but it’s important not to publicly criticize your players.
“One of the key observations I made was how high the keeper plays. Rosenior aims to create an additional center-back when they have possession. They need time, and I’m not quick to judge him. The players are still adapting to the changes since his arrival.”
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Although Chelsea lost and found themselves trailing by two goals on two occasions, there were positives to draw from the match, notably the one-goal deficit they have to overcome, including late heroics from substitute Alejandro Garnacho who scored two vital goals.
Rosenior has five matches to prepare before the return leg at the Emirates, hoping to reintegrate players like Cole Palmer and captain Reece James while instilling his tactical approach more effectively.
Melchiot remarked: “Garnacho made a significant impact when he came on. Wingers need to contribute, and Estevao had a couple of chances. His confidence at such a young age is impressive. The players who succeed in the Premier League tend to have that level of confidence.
“The two goals Garnacho netted were crucial in allowing Chelsea to stay competitive. The early corner that led to a goal could have been avoided, knowing how Arsenal operates.
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“When Chelsea faces Arsenal at their stadium, they’ll be in a better rhythm to create opportunities after settling into more games. I’m looking forward to seeing a closer match next time.”
How much do you believe the next five games will aid Chelsea in reaching the Wembley final?