JOHN OBI MIKEL says Chelsea are ‘suffering’ because they did not replace Enzo Fernandez.
Xabi Alonso’s Blues have only lost once this season – a 2-1 away defeat to champions Arsenal.
But that solid form on paper hides a worrying trend.
They have conceded NINE goals in four Premier League games, plus three against Leeds in the Carabao Cup.
Mikel says it’s Chelsea’s midfield, as well as their defence, that is the root of the problem.
And Fernandez’s joint-Prem record move to Manchester City on deadline day has not helped matters.
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Speaking on the Obi One podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder said: “We knew Enzo Fernandez wanted to leave the football club. We knew for so long he wanted to go.
“Yes, we’ve got £125million sitting in the bank, but we failed to bring in another player and that’s why we are suffering right now.
“We talk about leaking goals. Yes, we can blame the defence, but you need at least two holding players to be able to shield and protect the back-four in that system.
“You need that because you’re going to be exposed. That is one position that the club has failed to strengthen during the transfer window. We failed.
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Friday 18 September
Brentford
20:00
EPL
Chelsea
Saturday 19 September
Spurs
12:30
EPL
Villa
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Arsenal
Everton
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Newcastle
15:00
EPL
Hull
Forest
17:30
EPL
Coventry
Monday 14 September
Leeds
4 – 1
EPL
Newcastle
Sunday 13 September
Man Utd
0 – 1
EPL
Man City
Coventry
0 – 5
EPL
Brighton
Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
0 – 2
EPL
Arsenal
Spurs
0 – 0
EPL
Everton
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
4
12
7
4
0
0
2
4
12
6
4
0
0
3
4
8
4
2
2
0
4
4
8
3
2
2
0
5
4
7
8
2
1
1
6
4
7
1
2
1
1
7
4
6
3
1
3
0
8
4
6
2
1
3
0
“The likes of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro… they’re not going to defend as much.
“We do not want to drag them all the way back to defend because their job is to defend at the halfway line and when the ball gets to them, they do what they do best: create chances and score goals.
“We don’t want them to waste so much energy tracking their man all the way back because when they have the ball, they need all that energy to be able to go forward.
With Moises Caicedo injured, Alonso was forced to use Reece James alongside Romeo Lavia for the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Hull.
Caicedo could be back in the squad for Friday’s London derby with Brentford but is unlikely to be fit to start.
And Mikel hopes the Ecuadorian will make a big impact when he returns.
He added: “I think if Moises Caicedo comes back in the team, it’s going to make us a much, much better team because we’re conceding so many goals.
“It’s incredible. We can’t keep scoring four or five goals to win games. We should be able to score two goals and game over.”
Friday 18 September
Brentford
20:00
EPL
Chelsea
Saturday 19 September
Spurs
12:30
EPL
Villa
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Arsenal
Everton
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Newcastle
15:00
EPL
Hull
Forest
17:30
EPL
Coventry
Monday 14 September
Leeds
4 – 1
EPL
Newcastle
Sunday 13 September
Man Utd
0 – 1
EPL
Man City
Coventry
0 – 5
EPL
Brighton
Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
0 – 2
EPL
Arsenal
Spurs
0 – 0
EPL
Everton
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
4
12
7
4
0
0
2
4
12
6
4
0
0
3
4
8
4
2
2
0
4
4
8
3
2
2
0
5
4
7
8
2
1
1
6
4
7
1
2
1
1
7
4
6
3
1
3
0
8
4
6
2
1
3
0
Friday 18 September
Brentford
20:00
EPL
Chelsea
Saturday 19 September
Spurs
12:30
EPL
Villa
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Arsenal
Everton
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Newcastle
15:00
EPL
Hull
Forest
17:30
EPL
Coventry
Monday 14 September
Leeds
4 – 1
EPL
Newcastle
Sunday 13 September
Man Utd
0 – 1
EPL
Man City
Coventry
0 – 5
EPL
Brighton
Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
0 – 2
EPL
Arsenal
Spurs
0 – 0
EPL
Everton
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
4
12
7
4
0
0
2
4
12
6
4
0
0
3
4
8
4
2
2
0
4
4
8
3
2
2
0
5
4
7
8
2
1
1
6
4
7
1
2
1
1
7
4
6
3
1
3
0
8
4
6
2
1
3
0