Lee Hendrie blasts Chelsea defender’s ‘schoolboy defending’ in defeat against Aston Villa

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie criticized Marc Cucurella for his ‘schoolboy’ defense as Chelsea lost 2-0 to Unai Emery’s side.

Goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn on either side of half-time saw Aston Villa edge past Graham Potter’s side in the top half to further add to the pressure on the west London club.

Having to endure waves of pressure for long periods, Aston Villa seemed to carry out their manager’s instructions to the letter, soaking up Chelsea’s attacks before looking to pummel their opponents on the counter-attack.

From such a quick transition came the opening goal, with Douglas Luiz firing a hopeful ball forward that defender Cucurella misjudged and allowed Watkins a presentable chance that he managed to get past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Hendrie criticized Cucurella’s defense efforts.

“That’s a schoolboy’s defense,” he said. ‘From a defensive perspective, you have to say…’

His co-expert for the evening, former Chelsea player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, echoed his opinion, saying there was “no communication”.

“It’s a gift for Watkins, who does brilliantly to get past the goalkeeper,” Hendrie added, with Hasselbaink calling the high shot “icy cold.”

“Cold as ice, he was there and he’s always in control, the rebound helps him,” said the Dutchman.

With McGinn doubling Aston Villa’s lead in the second period, Chelsea worked hard but struggled to convert one of their many chances and Emery’s side were able to record a famous victory.

Despite registering 27 shots, he scored another game in which Potter’s side shot to love as they continue their goal-scoring efforts.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, referee Andy Madley’s full-time whistle was greeted by a cacophony of jeers from the Stamford Bridge crowd directed at manager Potter and poor performances from the team.

However, Hasselbaink urged the club to stick with the plan and the project of young players playing Potter.

The club spent extravagantly last summer and January to significantly lower the average age of the team, with Chelsea awarding unusually long contracts to Mykhailo Mudryk and Enzo Fernandez, who they hope will be the foundation of their team for years to come. .

“You made the decision to go with young players, so you have to give them time to make mistakes and do well,” he said.

‘You have to give them the time, otherwise they will never be the final product if they don’t go through this period.

‘And you’ve made the decision to go for Potter. Right now they are in a difficult moment, but I feel that you have to stay with him. You’ve gone with young players and Potter, stay with the project.’

Mudryk, who has struggled since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk in the winter, was a particular topic of conversation after he missed a very presentable chance early in the first half, appearing to catch his shot when it could have brought it closer to the goal. goal. .

Hasselbaink also sought to defend the Ukrainian, insisting that the £88m fee Chelsea paid for him does not mean he should be expected to start work straight away.

“Mudryk is not the finished article, it has potential,” he said. ‘He has to come more in these situations…he’s cost a lot of money, but he’s only been here a few months.

‘It’s about not being in these types of positions enough; If you repeatedly find yourself in these positions, [know to] it takes an extra touch and you shoot with more conviction. He needs time. She is a bad lady. Because the guy is coming for 88m or whatever, doesn’t mean he’s the finished article. But he needs space and room to fail.

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