Xabi Alonso has dismissed the notion that Chelsea's struggles in the first half against Leeds stemmed from the quality of their reserve players. The manager insists that the onus is on him to assess his own decisions.
After a disappointing first 45 minutes, where Chelsea found themselves 1-0 down, Alonso made a bold move at half-time, substituting four players: Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Reece James, and Pedro Neto. Although Leeds went on to score again early in the second half, Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback to win 6-3.
When asked if the match highlighted a difference between the first-team and reserve players, Alonso was clear:
No. I need to look deeper into how I can provide better support to the players who get less game time so they can contribute more effectively and feel more confident.
They found it tough against Leeds. Perhaps I made it too complicated for them as the opponent was strong. But during the match, we must respond and make decisions, and the players I brought on had a positive impact.
Alonso also stressed that he won't judge the quality of these players based solely on one half of football:
I have to take the blame and responsibility. I need to help them improve. They are not to blame. My assessment of their individual levels does not depend on what I saw today. I know they are players of a different calibre.
When he was pressed to agree that the first-choice players are capable of winning matches while the reserves are not yet up to scratch, Alonso remained steadfast in his position:
I prefer not to view it so cynically. Rather, I will consider whether I made the right decisions to allow those players to show their best level. That is what I will analyse and learn from after this game.
