Jamie Carragher was extremely critical of Marc Cucurella's defending after Ben Chilwell received a red card during Chelsea 's defeat Real Madrid.
The Blues face a tough task in overturning the first-leg loss after Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio found the net, with the west Londoners' own struggles in front of goal continuing in the Spanish capital. Their task will be all the more difficult given they'll be without Chilwell at Stamford Bridge next week.
He pulled Rodrygo as the Madrid forward was put through on goal, with the referee giving him his marching orders just before the hour. Carragher though has cited the role of Cucurella, who has copped criticism since his summer move from Brighton, for not reacting to the situation.
He said on CBS Sports : "Look at the body position here of Rodrygo compared to Cucurella. He is already on his way, Cucurella still hasn’t changed his body position to run back and on the far side, Ben Chilwell, when one of your centre-backs steps out the wing-back has to come in and fill that space.
"You can’t do everything you’d like to do as a defender [against rapid players]. You’d like to be tight and aggressive, but you’ve also got to remember who you’re playing against. Rodrygo is lightning-quick, so you can’t go fully in.
"Cucurella doesn’t go fully in, he gives himself a couple of yards – which is okay – but his problem is he doesn’t react! When the ball goes and [Rodrygo] spins, Cucurella is still like this [stood still]. He hasn’t changed the pace of the game and understood what is happening in that game."
Carragher did not absolve Chilwell of blame however, adding: "For me, Cucurella is at fault but that [from Chilwell] is even more at fault. Don’t pull someone back and give a red card away! The reason you pay a goalkeeper is to do his job and to get you out of trouble defensively – that’s what he’s there for! Let him do his job!"
Chelsea now have a tough job in overcoming the European champions if they do want to keep their season alive. Champions League glory is their final hope of silverware in what has been a disappointing season, with a third manager now at the helm.
Frank Lampard has previously enjoyed European success with the Blues back in 2012 and remains a believer despite losing the opening two games of his interim tenure. "Special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. We have to believe," he said.
"The door is open. It's up to us to kick it open. There's a bit of a lack of belief. The players don't know how good they are. There was some good in there. Next week will be a big fight."
