Chelsea fans were taken aback by an unexpected defeat at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. The Blues suffered a 2-1 loss to Fulham in the West London Derby, a result that was particularly disappointing. Chelsea initially took the lead thanks to a brilliant solo goal from Cole Palmer, who also set a new record for the most goals scored in a calendar year for Chelsea (26). Enzo Maresca’s team played some exciting football in the first half, but they failed to extend their advantage.
In the second half, a goal from Levi Colwill was disallowed for offside, which gave Fulham renewed hope. Fulham capitalized on this, with Harry Wilson scoring a close-range header to equalize. Chelsea’s inability to convert clear chances into goals proved costly. In stoppage time, Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz scored a winner, handing Fulham their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979.
Despite the defeat, Chelsea’s performance overall was lackluster, with three players in particular being singled out for poor performances. Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, and Tosin Adarabioyo all received a rating of 4 out of 10 from The Express for their display. Mikel Obi, a Chelsea legend, suggested that some players might benefit from a rest.
Obi’s analysis of the players’ performances highlighted key issues. He noted that Gusto, while not being overtly poor, failed to close down the ball and gave too much space to Fulham’s Robinson and Iwobi, which contributed to Fulham’s attacks. Gusto’s lack of awareness was evident when Wilson scored. As for Colwill, Obi acknowledged his assist for Palmer’s goal and solid defensive work, but questioned his positioning for Fulham’s late goals, especially when Muniz scored the winner.
Tosin Adarabioyo, playing against his former club, was also criticized for being caught out by Fulham’s quick runners and for his failure to track Wilson during the equalizer. Even goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who made some important saves during the match, was partially blamed for Chelsea’s downfall due to his involvement in the second goal.
Obi emphasized that while it’s not the right time to place full blame on these players, a rest could help them regain their form. He also suggested that Chelsea could experiment with changes in the coming games, such as giving Jorgensen a chance in goal and introducing fresh players to help revitalize the team.
In addition to individual player performances, Obi pointed out several mistakes made by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca that contributed to the defeat. Many fans criticized Maresca for his tactical decisions, such as playing Cole Palmer on the left wing, which didn’t work well. Obi also criticized Maresca’s lack of substitutions during the match. While Nkunku replaced Nicolas Jackson late in the game, Maresca made no other changes when it became clear that Fulham was gaining momentum. Obi also pointed out Jadon Sancho’s ineffective performance, stating that he struggled to make an impact on the left wing throughout the match.
Finally, Obi questioned Maresca’s decision to play with just one defensive midfielder and suggested that Chelsea’s long balls from goalkeeper Sanchez were inadequate. Obi also called for improvements in goalkeeping to help the team compete at a higher level in the league. Chelsea will hope to bounce back in their next game against Ipswich Town, as they aim to recover from two consecutive winless games.