December 25, 2024

Chelsea winners, losers and ratings as Mendy and Koulibaly flop in shocking Leeds loss

Koulibaly #Koulibaly

Winner: Chelsea’s rivals

Leeds looked like the side that earned so many admirers when returning to the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa.

Chelsea could not live with the energy on show from the hosts, with rivals shown that getting in the Blues’ face and giving them no time on the ball can force errors and have Tuchel’s side chasing their own tail.

The west London outfit will believe that they can learn from their mistakes, but that must happen quickly.

Winner: Transfer market

If the performance at Elland Road was anything to go by, then Tuchel will be back on the phone to Todd Boehly asking for more money to be made available before the summer transfer window closes.

The Blues have already spent big on the likes of Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly, but more fresh faces may be required.

They still look short at centre-back, with Reece James forced in there as Ruben Loftus-Cheek took over at right wing-back, and that could be a priority area for Chelsea to address – amid links to the likes of Wesley Fofana – before September 1.

Winner: Christian Pulisic & squad players

Those that did not figure at all against Leeds may feel as though they benefited most from having no association whatsoever with a demoralising defeat.

USMNT star Pulisic was only named on the bench once again, before being introduced in the second-half, but endured an afternoon to forget against a team managed by fellow countryman Jesse Marsch.

Captain America could see more minutes in upcoming fixtures, while Tuchel should expect plenty of knocks on his door this week from those of an opinion that they can offer more than the current occupants of starting berths.

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