Former Premier League legends and football pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright criticized Chelsea for their performance in a 1-1 away draw against Brighton and Hove Albion. The Blues are now without a win in their last four Premier League matches and there are doubts about their commitment toward finishing this season in top-four.
Chelsea manager made few changes against Brighton after their loss against Manchester City last Saturday. He changed formation to 4-2-2-2, brought Callum Hudson-Odoi in the attack to partner Romelu Lukaku. But this change in formation and new setup of two strikers didn’t work for Thomas Tuchel at Falmer Stadium. The Morrocan winger Hakim Ziyech scored the first goal of the match after wonderful one-twos with N’Golo Kante. But on the hour mark, Brighton pulled the equalizer through defender Adam Webster who scored a thumping free header.
In their last match, Chelsea lost 1-0 against Manchester City, which ended their hopes for the title race as they are now 12 points behind the Citizens and have played a game more. They also lost the 2nd position to Liverpool after that result and now they are just 5 points ahead of neighbors West Ham United who have played a game less. Now BBC pundits and former Arsenal legend Ian Wright alongside Premier League hall of fame Alan Shearer have pointed out a few things which have downgraded Chelsea’s performances lately.
Alan Shearer And Ian Wright Slam Chelsea Manager Thomas Tuchel For Losing The Dressing Room:
Manchester United are struggling with off-the-pitch issues, mainly surrounded with dressing room troubles, and that has certainly affected their on-the-pitch performances. Both Wright and Shearer shared the same thought on this thing is happening with Chelsea as well.
‘It’s his [Tuchel’s] job to sort it out because we can see it happening on the pitch, we saw it on Saturday against Manchester City, we saw it again against Brighton, it’s not a happy camp and that is one of the reasons, no doubt about it.’ – Alan Shearer.
Former Newcastle United striker also slammed Callum Hudson-Odoi’s performance against Brighton, who played full 90 minutes. English youngster was given a rare start in attack, not his natural position, but he failed to impress after lack of creativity and commitments.
He missed to cross the ball towards Romelu Lukaku who was in the better position to score and was calling for the pass with his hands in the air but Hudson-Odoi chose to pass the ball backward. Luakau’s reaction was noted by Shearer and his response was an earful for the English winger.
‘Hudson-Odoi I thought he had a really poor game this evening, You’re looking for some energy, you’re looking for a burst of pace to go past the defender and it never happened. His decision there to stop, come back and pass it all the way back, I can’t believe what I’m seeing.’ – Shearer on Hudson-Odoi.
Shearer and Wright also noted a lack of celebration from Chelsea players for Hakim Ziyech’s goal. Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and N’Golo Kante showed no happy reaction to the goal and Wright claims that there is something going on and it doesn’t look like ‘a happy dressing room’ at Chelsea.
‘When the ball hits the back of the net have a look at Lukaku, Hudson-Odoi, Kante, their lack of celebration, their lack of reaction, they’re walking back, heads down, there’s nothing in it.