Wesley Fofana revealed how Chelsea got the better of Leeds, explaining the plans put in place to ensure a first win in six games. The Frenchman's second half goal was the difference as Graham Potter was able to celebrate just his second victory of 2023.
The ex-Leicester City man got his second of the season having previously scored on his last game before an injury kept him out for nearly four months, grabbing the opener in a 3-0 win over AC Milan. He has come in to replace the injured Thiago Silva and formed a promising partnership with Benoit Badiashile.
His performance against Leeds was also about much more than just scoring, with an all-round impressive display from a player that has only recently returned to first-team action. He's been far from a prolific scorer, even from defence, throughout his short career so far but there was more to the header on Saturday than meets the eye.
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Speaking after the game, the 22-year-old said: "Not nerves but excitement for the win, the fans and the club. It is a difficult situation but everyone in the club pushes for a win. Yesterday in training we worked on set-pieces and today I scored one. It's a good feeling."
With just one goal in 52 games for Leicester and two for Saint-Etienne, it isn't something he has become known for but if Chelsea can add goals from defence to their side, it will take the pressure off the often misfiring frontline, as with the forwards struggling to make an impact, extra contributions are always welcome.
The set-piece profligacy has also previously angered fans that have been used to seeing centre-backs chipping in with five goals a season each. This hasn't been the case in recent years and this especially has seen an immense drop-off in quality of attacking balls.
Ben Chilwell's outswinging cross was met by Fofana outjumping the Leeds defence in a similar manner to his first half attempt that went over. Now, with Manchester United conceding seven against Liverpool, some fans have gone further than just praising Fofana.
After Lisandro Martinez was part of a backline that shipped six goals in one half against Liverpool, one fan went as far as saying, "Wesley Fofana is who Man United fans think Martinez is," whilst another added, "Wesley Fofana made me realize Lisandro Martinez is just hype."
Fofana will have a big role to play if his side are to overturn the 1-0 Champions League first leg deficit against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night, a game he is now all but certain to feature in as Graham Potter continues to struggle with injury problems in his squad.
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