Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Xabi Alonso ‘takes responsibility’ as Palmer, Rogers and Welbeck rescue Blues in cup – BBC Sport
BBC Homepage
Skip to content
Accessibility Help
Your account
Home
News
Sport
Earth
Reel
Worklife
Travel
Culture
Future
Music
TV
Weather
Sounds
BBC Sport
Star subs rescue Chelsea as Alonso ‘takes blame’
Xabi Alonso watched his Chelsea team hit six goals in the second half against Leeds United but felt the need to "take responsibility" for the shaky start that came before the thrilling flurry.
By Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter
Published 21 minutes ago
Xabi Alonso needed to call on his bench after a lacklustre start from Chelsea, as they recovered from 2-0 down to progress as 6-3 winners in the Carabao Cup.
Amid jubilation that followed the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea recovered from behind to secure their place in the fourth round, it was easy to forget that Alonso’s side were booed off at half-time. Supporters witnessed arguably the worst first half of Alonso’s short tenure to date, with Leeds making eight changes themselves but still threatening to surge into the next round.
Defender Tarik Muharemovic opened the scoring before Brenden Aaronson doubled Leeds’ lead shortly after the break.
Alonso had responded to Chelsea’s out-of-sorts start by making four substitutions at half-time. On came Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James, and together they changed the game. The sight of Palmer and Rogers warming up had gladdened the hearts of many, turning jeers to cheers. By the end of the night, Palmer had scored twice, fellow substitute Neto had also found the net, and Rogers left the field after helping to create four goals from open play in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround.
However, speaking after the match, Alonso said he had made it "hard" for his players in the first place.
"I need to take my own blame and my own responsibility on the things that happen," he said. "I need to be able to help them better so they are not responsible, and after you need to react and think what’s better for the team."
Alonso said the raft of substitutions he felt compelled to make should be considered "part of the game".
Chelsea come back to thump Leeds 6-3 in EFL Cup third round
Stars keep hopes alive for fringe players
For the Premier League’s biggest clubs, this competition is usually an opportunity to blood youngsters and give fringe players valuable minutes. However, only 35-year-old Danny Welbeck, who scored twice, emerged from the starters with a compelling case for more regular involvement. Even Valentin Barco, despite scoring Chelsea’s fifth goal, was partly at fault for Leeds’ second and was among several players who repeatedly surrendered possession during a difficult first half.
Young attackers Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens suffered the disappointment of being substituted at half-time, while £40m signing Geovany Quenda, who joined from Sporting, did not add to his solitary substitute appearance for the club as he watched from the bench.
Midfielder Reggie Watson, mak
