Star substitutes rescue Chelsea after alarming first-half display against Leeds
Chelsea came from 2-0 down at half-time to score six second-half goals and beat Leeds United 6-3, reaching the League Cup fourth round, though head coach Xabi Alonso admitted responsibility for the poor opening 45 minutes.
Chelsea produced one of the most dramatic turnarounds of Xabi Alonso's brief tenure on Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge, overturning a two-goal deficit against Leeds United to win 6-3 in the Carabao Cup third round.
Alonso made nine changes to his starting line-up, and the disruption showed: Chelsea were jeered off at half-time after a poor first-half display. Leeds, who themselves made eight changes, took control through Tarik Muharemovic's opener, and Brenden Aaronson doubled their lead soon after the restart.
Alonso responded immediately, sending on four substitutes at the break — Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James. The move transformed the match. Chelsea scored six times in the second half, with Palmer netting twice, Neto also finding the net, and Rogers involved in the build-up to four of the goals from open play. Veteran forward Danny Welbeck, 35, scored twice among the starters, while Valentin Barco got Chelsea's fifth goal despite having contributed to Leeds' second.
Speaking afterwards, Alonso said he had made things difficult for his players by fielding an inexperienced side. "I need to take my own blame and my own responsibility on the things that happen," he said. "I need to be able to help them better so they are not responsible, and after you need to react and think what's better for the team." He described the large number of changes as "part of the game."
Young attackers Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens were withdrawn at half-time, while £40m signing Geovany Quenda, recently arrived from Sporting, remained an unused substitute. Sixteen-year-old debutant Reggie Watson was also taken off at the break after picking up a booking.
Alonso said he would avoid taking a cynical view of the gap between his established stars and the club's fringe players, adding that he would learn from the experience. Reaching the fourth round matters to Chelsea, who, without European football this season, rely on cup fixtures to keep their 27-man squad competitively engaged.
