Wesley Fofana is savaged by L'Equipe after Real beat Chelsea
Wesley Fofana is savaged by L’Equipe and given 2/10 rating after he was ‘martyred by Vinicius’ in Chelsea’s loss to Real Madrid, with Joao Felix branded a ‘failure’ and Ben Chilwell’s attacking threat ‘non-existent’ before he was sent off in 2-0 defeat
- Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final
- French newspaper L’Equipe was not impressed by how their players performed
- Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix and N’Golo Kante received low marks
Wesley Fofana has been savaged for his performance in Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, with French newspaper L’Equipe comparing him unfavourably to Dayot Upamecano.
24 hours after the bungling Bayern Munich defender was awarded a dismal 2/10 rating after their 3-0 loss to Manchester City, Fofana received the same lowly score.
But he was far from alone, with Ben Chilwell getting a mere 3/10 following his sending off, the same rating as the ineffective Joao Felix.
N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Raheem Sterling – plus interim manager Frank Lampard – only got 4/10 as defending champions Real put themselves in a strong position to make the semi-finals.
Goals by Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio either side of Chilwell’s 59th-minute red card for bringing down Rodrygo as the Brazilian threatened to break clear on goal.
Wesley Fofana is consoled by Frank Lampard after his 2/10 performance in Chelsea’s defeat
French newspaper L’Equipe said Fofana was ‘martyred’ by Vinicius Jr as he struggled to cope
L’Equipe are usually unsparing in their player ratings and Wednesday night was no exception
L’Equipe’s typically scathing assessment of Frenchman Fofana said ‘in proportions barely less than Upamecano the day before, he suffered all evening’ and was ‘martyred’ by Vinicius Jr.
The paper noted he ‘lost a large number of duels and balls’ and was at fault for both goals.
Felix, who started in a front two with Sterling, was branded a ‘failure’ by L’Equipe, getting ‘only crumbs’ and ‘offering neither support nor depth.’
In the end, the Portuguese was withdrawn for Trevoh Chalobah shortly after Chilwell’s red card.
Chilwell ‘suffered defensively’ against Rodrygo and his ‘attacking contribution was non-existent’ despite being deployed as a wing-back with three central defenders behind him.
L’Equipe did, however, say Marc Cucurella should share some of the blame for Chilwell’s red card after being caught out of position as Rodrygo ran through.
They say Kante started well in midfield but ‘quickly went downhill’ and the fact it was only his fifth game of the season became quickly apparent.
Ben Chilwell – who got 3/10 – trudges off after being red carded for bringing down Rodrygo
Chilwell (left) walks off the field after he was sent off for a last-man foul on the Brazilian
L’Equipe was especially scathing of Joao Felix, whose Chelsea loan spell was branded a ‘failure’
It was a miserable night in the Bernabeu for Chelsea’s interim manager Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s highest-rated player was goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was given 6/10 after making important saves.
Real’s marks were understandably higher, with Federico Valverde deemed their best performer with 8/10.
Benzema, Vinicius, Toni Kroos, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois all received 7/10, but the raters were less keen on Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, who got 5/10.
The return leg is at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday next week.
Karim Benzema celebrates after putting Real Madrid ahead with a close-range finish
Substitute Marco Asensio gave Madrid breathing space and a two-goal cushion
Source: Read Full Article