Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf was not happy with Mauricio Pochettino yesterday.
Despite leading 2-1 with only a couple of minutes to play, Chelsea went on to draw 2-2 with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
It looked like they would follow up their incredible 4-3 win against Manchester United last Thursday with victory over Chris Wilder’s side after Noni Madueke’s fantastic strike.
But in the end, the Blues were unable to hold on and allowed Oli McBurnie to equalise deep into stoppage time.
The substitutions that Mauricio Pochettino decided to make are now starting to be questioned.
Frank Leboeuf criticises Mauricio Pochettino
Towards the end of the match, Pochettino made changes to try and see things out.
That included the introduction of Benoit Badiashile to the game and withdrawal of Nicolas Jackson, who should not actually be a starter, according to Scott Minto.
There was obviously logic in bringing on another defender, but Frank Leboeuf has now hit out at Pochettino for taking off the latter.
Speaking on ESPN after the game, he said: “We saw at the last minute, 30 seconds before they conceded the second goal, Jackson going out and Badiashile coming on, and I said: ‘Well, he’s so scared about not keeping the result that he will follow what Wilder is doing.’
“When you are Chelsea, you have to counter-attack and put attackers [on]. Try to score the third goal, don’t try to save the 2-1, and I say: ‘Well, that’s Chelsea right now.’ So what do you expect from a club who have to put a defender [on] to save a 2-1 lead against the last of the league? That says a lot for me.”
Did Nicolas Jackson do enough against Sheffield United?
Probably not. Jackson did not have his best game in a blue shirt, but the same can be said about the majority of his team-mates.
Madueke was the only Chelsea player really who shined yesterday.
Whatever the case, you would still expect Jackson to start again next Monday when the Blues face Everton.
With Christopher Nkunku still out injured and Armando Broja joining Fulham in the January transfer window, the £32m Senegal international is the only real striker option that Pochettino currently has available.