Joe Cole has pinpointed two Chelsea new signings as the reason they fell to defeat against Borussia Dortmund. The game was decided by a moment of brilliance from Karim Adeyemi in the second half with Graham Potter's men having the better chances throughout.
It was a lack of cutting-edge and clinical finishing that cost the Blues in Germany with Joao Felix missing two guilt-edged opportunities before Kalidou Koulibaly's saved shot was cleared off the line. Despite a much improved showing it still leaves plenty to be done in the second leg.
With returning players coming back into the team both Reece James and Ben Chilwell were together at fullback whilst Hakim Ziyech and Kalidou Koulibaly played in place of Noni Madueke and Benoit Badiashile. Felix was the standout man again but couldn't add the final touch to some wonderful runs across the pitch.
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Although the 23-year-old could have scored twice it was two other new signings that frustrated Cole. The former winger wasn't best pleased with how Ezno Fernandez dealt with the surging Adeyemi for Dortmund's goal, saying, "The art of defending is going.
"Thiago Silva, 38, arguably one of the two best defenders in the Premier League. So many young players could do a little bit of coaching on that art. The what if player, what if it drops in. There's a lot to be done around that in the modern game."
Rio Ferdinand weighed in too, adding: "You need to stop things at the source. The best defenders and best communicators and the best teams do that."
It was Mykhailo Mudryk that really caught his eye for the wrong reason though. The Ukraine winger was caught out on the counter and failed to anticipate Dortmund breaking from deep. "There needs to be a bit of blame on Mudryk," Cole explained. "When you are an attacking player, you are thinking to yourself, 'right, I can score a goal here if the ball drops.
"As soon as you realise that the ball [has been cleared], right, switch on defensively. He just lets [Adeyemi] run off him. I feel like quick players can lose concentration because they feel that their pace can get them away with it."
The goal was Dortmund's only big chance of the game whereas Chelsea registered three but missed all of them. It summed up a frustrating night for Potter, who admitted the goal was terrible to concede in that way. It’s a poor goal and we have to do better," he said.
"We were pushing at the time and were the better team. So to concede in that manner is what we’re disappointed with. The players are honest and they know they can do better with that. We have to help them, of course, but we will focus on the positives."
Chelsea have three league games to build up some form before they play Dortmund at Stamford Bridge.
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