Chelsea Player Ratings: Badiashile Subbed at Half-Time as Estevao Struggles in Leeds Nightmare

CHELSEA’S title hopes took a huge hit as they crashed to defeat at Leeds.

at Elland Road just days after an admirable draw against league leaders

Enzo Maresca watched in dismay as his Chelsea side were thumped 3-1 by LeedsCredit: Reuters Cole Palmer’s return from injury did not go to planCredit: Getty

Moises Caicedo’s absence was felt in midfield as he missed the game through suspension.

And will be wondering whether he showed Leeds enough respect as he made several big changes to his starting XI.

Here, SunSport’s Rob Maul reveals his player ratings…

Robert Sanchez – 3

The Spanish goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the powerful header by Jaka Bijol on six minutes but he was unable to prevent it from going in.

If we are being honest here, a goalkeeper of his standing should have done much better to prevent that.

In his defence, there was perhaps little he could do to stop the stunning strike from Ao Tanaka – and no wonder he led the inquest, berating his teammates as Leeds celebrated.

And he went even more ballistic when Leeds’ third goal, scored by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was allowed to stand after he felt he had been fouled by substitute Noah Okafor.

A nightmare evening for Sanchez.

Robert Sanchez cut a frustrated figure all eveningCredit: Reuters

Trevoh Chalobah – 3

Trevoh Chalobah sat on the bench the last time Chelsea came to this part of Yorkshire three years ago and Leeds enjoyed a famous 3-0 win.

The England centre-back knows all about this part of the country, having once been on loan at county rivals Huddersfield Town.

But like his teammates he will not want to come back here any time soon.

He may even have nightmares about Lukas Nmecha, who had an excellent evening up front for the home side.

Trevoh Chalobah had a bad outing in defenceCredit: Getty

Tosin Adarabioyo – 3

Early on in the contest, the London-born centre-back clattered into Nmecha and the Leeds forward certainly felt the impact of that robust challenge.

Yet Adarabioyo was a stationary, non-responsive figure when Leeds scored from a corner on six minutes.

Adarabioyo failed to react and barely moved when Nijol got on the end of the Anton Stach corner.

And my goodness, he produced a moment of schoolboy defending when he was outmuscled by Okafor and then Calvert-Lewin scored with a tap-in.

Sometimes it pays just to hoof the ball clear rather than try some tippy-tappy football.

Benoit Badiashile – 3

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca clearly felt the French leader, 24, had not done enough in the first half to warrant a reappearance for the second.

It is always embarrassing to be taken off at half-time, unless you have had a slight knock.

Even more embarrassing for a centre-back but the Italian chief felt Malo Gusto would give the team more solidity.

It would have felt like a long journey home for Badiashile.

Marc Cucurella – 5

Nobody on the pitch appeared to run as far or cover as much ground as the livewire Spaniard.

The 27-year-old occupied a curious positional role in the team – he started out at left back but would constantly come into midfield or even operate as a second striker.

Cucurella will not want to return to Elland Road again in a hurry.

He was the only person in the line-up in Chelsea’s last visit here – that 3-0 walloping in August 2022.

On 35 minutes, he was lucky to avoid a serious injury when Stach went straight through him without even touching the ball – and Cucurella, with his large mane of hair, went flying into the air.

Marc Cucurella found himself in a very advanced positionCredit: Getty

Enzo Fernandez – 4

He might be a World Cup winner but he should really know better – and giving the ball cheaply in midfield is unforgivable.

Had Fernandez managed to retain possession on 43 minutes then Leeds would not have doubled their lead.

The Blues captain surrendered the ball easily to Jayden Bogle and then Ao Tanaka fired in one of the best goals of the week’s Premier League schedule.

You would expect better than this from the Buenos Aires battler.

Andrey Santos – 5

A tidy, if not uninspiring performance from the Brazilian midfielder.

At least he had a better game than his midfield partner Enzo Fernandez.

The 21-year-old was forced to mop up a lot of the trouble that came his way.

And he will learn a lot from how he handled this clash.

Andrey Santos struggled to replace Moises CaicedoCredit: AFP

Estevao – 3

What a test this was for the 18-year-old Brazilian – could he perform on a cold night in west Yorkshire?

The answer was an emphatic NO.

To illustrate how disappointing a display this was, Estêvão – who wore gloves – was cautioned for kicking Gabriel Gudmundsson after losing possession.

It was an act of petulance and something he should learn from.

How lucky he was not to be sent off there. And he was taken off at half-time for Pedro Neto.

To become a world-class player, as many hope and expect he will, he has to perform on challenging evenings like this.

Joao Pedro – 5

One minute the Sao Paulo forward was lurking behind front man Liam Delap.

The next, he was alongside him in attack.

Maresca clearly felt the Brazilian should stay on the pitch and could offer something, hence why he was given the full run-out .

But the £60million man barely had a shot at target and apart from an excellent ball for Delap on 38 minutes, he lacked creativity.

Joao Pedro’s woes in front of goal continuedCredit: Getty

Jamie Gittens – 5

There were two times in the first half, on 14 and then 19 minutes, where the England winger could have made an impact.

Both times the situations came to nothing and there was no final ball.

He made amends for that on 50 minutes when he raced to the byline and his cross to substitute Neto was brilliantly tucked home.

A shame he could not produce that for 90 minutes consistently.

Jamie Gittens was hooked early in the second halfCredit: Getty

Liam Delap – 4

If the English striker, 22, wants to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plans then he will have to defend better from corners.

Delap completely failed to track the run of Bijol as the Leeds defender headed in the opener on six minutes.

To make up for that lapse in concentration, Delap tried to assert himself up top and worked hard but the end product was solely missing.

He came off on 61 minutes for Cole Palmer.

Subs

Malo Gusto (for Badiashile – half-time) – 4

The French defender, 22, was given a vote of confidence as he replaced Badiashile for the second half.

And while he cannot take full blame or responsibility for this loss, as the damage had already been done before his arrival, he was not able to plug the gaps in the defence.

Malo Gusto came on at the break but made little impactCredit: AFP

Pedro Neto (for Estevao – half-time) – 6

Less than five minutes after coming on, Pedro Neto scored with a tremendous finish at the back post.

First, he controlled the ball with his right boot, and then he swiveled his body to strike home with his left.

It was the type of magic that Chelsea had been lacking in the first half.

Pedro, 25, gave it back to the Leeds fans by putting his fingers in his ears.

One of the bright sparks on an otherwise dull night for Chelsea.

Cole Palmer (for Delap ‘61) – 4

The England hero stifled a yawn as he waited on the substitutes bench for his return to Premier League action.

He was introduced on 61 minutes for Liam Delap and this was his first appearance since September 20 because of a groin injury and a fractured little toe.

His big moment came on 68 minutes but he fired the cutback from Alejandro Garnacho wide of the post.

Clearly he is not match sharp just yet.

Alejandro Garnacho (for Gittens ‘61) – 4

Like Palmer, he was given a full 30 minutes to wield his magic and try to influence the outcome.

But apart from one cutback for Palmer on 68 minutes, there was not a lot to recall from the Argentine winger’s cameo.

Garnacho would not have enjoyed being on the subs bench but he has to offer more when he does come.

Alejandro Garnacho had a torrid time on the wingCredit: Getty

Marc Guiu (for Andrey Santos ‘77) – 3

The Spanish teenager was unable to influence the result and it would have been unfair to think that he could.

His appearance was five minutes after Chelsea scored their third and there was little he could do under these circumstances.