Chelsea
Chelsea’s midfield duo, Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos, faced criticism following Sunderland’s last-minute victory over the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The match saw Regis Le Bris’ side secure all three points with a late winner from Chemsdine Talbi, after Wilson Isidor equalized Alejandro Garnacho’s early goal. Former Swansea City defender Ashley Williams praised Sunderland’s performance but questioned the commitment of Chelsea’s midfielders in tracking back during crucial moments.
Ashley Williams said: “They [Sunderland] were very good today. I think they had the right attitude, they weren’t overawed. We can see from the stats here, forget that possession stat [68-32] they dominated without the ball. You can see at the bottom, duels won and aerial duels won, they went to Stamford Bridge and physically they were stronger and full of confidence. I think they dominated the game without the ball.”
Williams continued: “This is in the first two minutes of the game, they’re getting in the little gaps between Chelsea’s defence and midfield. Isidor is a problem for Chelsea. This is what I like, the reaction, the press straight away, they’re not sitting back and want to put pressure on Chelsea. They force an early mistake. Cucurrella who was high and inside often, left Traore. You can see Sunderland have gone there with the right attitude.”
He added: “When Chelsea do get possession, they fall back into this 5-4-1 shape but it’s not passive. They’re there, but as soon as the ball gets played back, they put pressure onto the ball. They win the ball back, and they don’t hesitate. They’ve got runners going forward. Again, you can see where Cucurella is, he’s nowhere near Traore.”
Williams remarked: “Here, Chelsea want to play through the centre of the pitch because they’ve got quality players in their midfield. Sunderland have got bodies around the ball and they’re blocking their passing lanes. Again, aggressive in the tackle, they retain possession really well. Granit Xhaka was brilliant today, keep an eye on him, full of running, 33-years-old, he gets in behind, little bit of skill and he’s unlucky not to get the finish. Reinildo [was] excellent again in dealing with the wingers.”
He concluded: “They win the ball back right at the end. Geertruida steps in and plays a hopeful ball to Brobbey. Clears his lines, but if we keep an eye on Caicedo and Santos, the desire just isn’t there. They expect their defenders to deal with it. As Brobbey holds it up, he’s so strong, he gets his head up, rolls it to Talbi, great finish in the bottom corner. What a day for Sunderland.”
The analysis of the game highlighted Sunderland’s tactical discipline and physical dominance, which allowed them to capitalize on Chelsea’s defensive lapses. Despite Chelsea’s superior possession statistics, Sunderland’s effective pressing and ability to exploit spaces between Chelsea’s lines proved decisive. The criticism of Caicedo and Santos underscores the importance of midfield tracking in preventing counter-attacks, something Chelsea failed to execute effectively.
Sunderland’s victory at Stamford Bridge serves as a reminder of the challenges Chelsea faces in maintaining consistency and defensive solidity, particularly with a squad that includes young talents still gaining experience. The result leaves Chelsea reflecting on missed opportunities, as a win could have positioned them closer to the top of the Premier League table.
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