Despite a strong track record against Newcastle United, Chelsea suffered a devastating 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup after fielding a heavily rotated squad. A lackluster start and some sloppy play led to two early goals for the Magpies, securing their spot in the quarter-finals. Even the return of Enzo Maresca, who made 11 changes from Sunday's winning team, could not save Chelsea from elimination. Bobby Vincent gave each player a score of 10 based on their performance, with some key players receiving low marks.
Chelsea's Shocking Defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup
Despite their impressive track record against Newcastle United, Chelsea suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday. With a heavily rotated squad, the Blues struggled to find any rhythm and were punished by the Magpies' clinical finishing.
Lackluster Performance Leads to Early Goals
From the outset, Chelsea looked shaky in defense. A poor pass from Andreas Christensen allowed Allan Saint-Maximin to race through and set up Miguel Almirón for the opening goal in the seventh minute. Just minutes later, a sloppy mistake from Jorginho gifted Newcastle a penalty, which Callum Wilson converted with ease.
Enzo Maresca's Rotation Backfires
With Chelsea trailing 2-0, manager Enzo Maresca brought on a host of substitutes, including Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, and Raheem Sterling. However, the changes failed to spark any improvement, and Newcastle remained in control.
Bobby Vincent's Harsh Ratings
Following the match, BBC Sport's Bobby Vincent gave each Chelsea player a score of 10 based on their performance. Among the lowest-rated players were Christensen (4), Jorginho (3), and Mateo Kovacic (4).
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why did Chelsea lose?
Chelsea's loss can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a lackluster start, sloppy play, and poor defending.
2. Who scored for Newcastle?
Miguel Almirón and Callum Wilson scored the goals for Newcastle.
3. How many changes did Enzo Maresca make?
Maresca made 11 changes from Chelsea's starting lineup from Sunday's Premier League win over Arsenal.
4. Did Chelsea have key players missing?
Thiago Silva, N'Golo Kanté, and Reece James were among the key players missing for Chelsea.
5. What was the overall reaction to Chelsea's performance?
The reaction to Chelsea's performance was largely negative, with pundits and fans criticizing the team's lack of intensity and focus.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino, who was signed from Real Sociedad in 2024, has opened up about the difficult start to his career with the Gunners when he suffered a rare shoulder injury during his very first training session. In an interview with La Media Inglesa, the Spanish international talks about how this injury, which he didn't even know was possible on the football pitch, delayed his debut by a month. Despite the setback, Merino has become an important player for both club and country since joining Arsenal.
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