Graeme Souness has questioned Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly after a reckless moment in the Premier League vs Leeds United.
From putting in solid displays against Everton and Tottenham and even scoring in the London derby, Koulibaly was brought back to reality after a horror performance for Chelsea who fell to a shock defeat away to Jesse Marsch's side on Sunday. Familiar pitfalls from last season showed their head again in 2022/23. Whether it was a lack of clinical edge in front of goal, to not keeping composure after a slight setback, the bad Chelsea habits that have been ever-present under Thomas Tuchel and previously Frank Lampard continue to haunt Chelsea from making a real claim to be genuine contenders in the Premier League title race.
It's still very early in the season and the west Londoners, headed by Todd Boehly off the field, can turn to the transfer market to fix some problems that were evident at Elland Road amid talks to sign Wesley Fofana have taken a positive turn for the good. Chelsea will hope they can sign Fofana before the Leicester game so the current Foxes star could be in line to face his former side straight away and fill in Koulibaly temporarily at the same time for this game week 4 fixture.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer slams Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for Leeds Premier League 'howler'
"It is a bit of a reflection of frustration, and it cannot happen. We cannot get frustrated in the Premier League," Tuchel said on Koulibaly in his post-match press conference. It is a pure joy to play games in an atmosphere like this. We should just do it and accept it. It is not okay, and it is not good."
Alan Shearer, who has already been critical of the 31-year-old, has been vindicated for his words as Graeme Souness has backed him up in this example. The well-known Sky Sports pundit went a step further in his questioning of the £34m acquisition.
"I saw something in Koulibaly last week when Harry got his equaliser," he told talkSPORT. "There was three Tottenham players who could’ve scored that goal they’re all attacking the ball, that’s why you’ve got a 6 ft 3, 6 ft 4 defender, a big strong man to be in the mix to put his head on that or at least bundle people out the way.
"He ends up standing on the goal line. I’m looking at him now and I’m thinking, you’re 31, I’m thinking you’re a big, strong, aggressive player that’s going to attack every ball that arrives in the box, he didn’t do it yesterday, he didn’t do it against Spurs. I’d be saying to him this is why we got you, I’m not saying this has happened to him but when you get to 30+ you start to think maybe that sort of challenge isn’t for me anymore.
"He has to realise that playing in the English Premier League, that challenge he’s going to make every single tackle."
Chelsea fans - do you agree with Graeme Souness' assessment of Kalidou Koulibaly? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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