Martin Keown claims Wesley Fofana 'should have caught' Mislav Orsic

‘How on earth has he scored from there!?’: Martin Keown criticises Chelsea’s defending for Dinamo Zagreb’s winner as he says Wesley Fofana ‘should have caught’ Mislav Orsic as he sprinted away, while Joe Cole questions the £75m man’s positioning

• Joe Cole, Peter Crouch and Martin Keown have criticised Chelsea’s defending
• The Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League
• Kalidou Koulibaly lost a header on the half-way line which allowed a break
• Wesley Fofana was then outpaced by Mislav Orsic, who ran through to score

Joe Cole, Peter Crouch and Martin Keown have criticised new Chelsea signings Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly after Dinamo Zagreb took the lead against the Blues in the Champions League this evening following some questionable defending.

Mislav Orsic netted in the 13th minute after breaking away from Fofana on the counter, following Koulibaly initially losing a header to Bruno Petkovic on the half-way line.

Cole and Crouch, working as pundits on BT Sport, questioned the duo, with Crouch saying he would be ‘angry’ if he was Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana was outpaced by Mislav Orsic for the game’s opening goal

Kalidou Kouliably lost an important header to Bruno Petkovic in the build-up to the goal

‘It’s a lovely header from Petkovic for the goal but Koulibaly has got to do better,’ said Cole, who made 282 appearances as a player for Chelsea.

‘Fofana gets in the wrong position and Orsic – who has been a thorn in the side of English sides – it’s a lovely finish.’

Crouch added: ‘If I’m the manager, I’d be angry. Chelsea had it in the palm of their hand, they were cutting Zagreb open, I just thought they took liberties. 

‘They weren’t clinical, the extra pass, and then Zagreb get something to hold onto. They’re no mugs either, they’ve got dangers up front, too.’

Mislav Orsic’s goal was celebrated by the Zagreb players, who put in an solid performance

Keown, who was on commentary for the game, said: ‘Incredible! I really thought Fofana, with the pace he has, should’ve caught him. I think Tuchel is looking at it and wondering how on earth he’s scored from there!’

Chelsea were opened up by a simple long ball before Koulibaly’s error, which led to criticisms of the Blues’ midfield.

Tuchel’s side are struggling for numbers in that area with N’Golo Kante injured, Mateo Kovacic only just returning from injury, and the German has been forced to play the likes of Conor Gallagher out of position, with Mason Mount selected to play deeper in Croatia.

Koulibaly has had a mixed start to his Chelsea career, and struggled in Croatia throughout

Joe Cole was one of three pundits that criticised Chelsea’s defending for the opening goal

Cole said: ‘We talked about the midfield pairing of Kovacic and Mount being balanced, but on this occasion it just wasn’t. 

‘Watch Koulibaly, he’s got to recognise [the danger]. It’s two versus one and it’s all ok, but as the ball gets played he has to get over and take him [Petkovic] out, but he doesn’t. Fofana also has to drop there – he goes in, he nibbles and then bang.’

Crouch questioned Fofana’s match fitness after the Frenchman sat out Leicester games in anticipation of his move from the Foxes to the London side, before admitting Chelsea would be ruing their missed chances in the opening moments of the game.

Fofana was making his Champions League debut for Chelsea after joining the club last week

‘They [Koulibaly and Fofana] both go for the same man, and then Orsic has got the impetus, the pace,’ he said. 

‘Fofana should come back there, potentially he’s not match fit, and then it’s lovely centre-forward play for the goal.

‘Joe and I have both been in games where the first ten minutes are so easy and you’re just taking chances at will, you’re taking liberties. But Aubameyang has got to be more clinical.’

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