Chelsea verdict: Blues have no defence during brutal cross examination in Valencia with European hopes in the balance

CHELSEA had no case for a defence as Valencia gave them a cross examination in Spain.

Two big balls into the box put their Champions League hopes in serious jeopardy.

Andreas Christensen was a makeshift defensive choice in Frank Lampard’s back fourCredit: Getty – Contributor

Frank Lampard opted for Reece James on the right side of a back four, alongside two Maurizio Sarri rejects Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen, with Cesar Azpilicueta filling in on the left.

It was a dodgy dot-and-dab wall of a defence — and you wouldn’t hang a coathanger on it, let a lone your Champions League hopes.

There were square pegs in round holes everywhere — much like the barmy 4-4 draw at home to Ajax — and it showed.

Couple that with Valencia’s tactics: get it to the wingers, cross the ball and get bodies in the box.

But boy was it exciting for the neutral.

Their counter-attacking is well poised for European football, while their offensive build-up play — especially in the first half — was top class.

When Valencia got through their channels, the Blues were brutally exposed.

They were flashed a warning after 18 minutes when Maxi Gomez bizarrely missed the easiest tap-in the Mestalla has ever seen.

But the Blues were torn apart when the gap between Azpilicueta and Christensen was the size of the Mediterranean and Rodrigo exploded into it, but his square ball was criminally fluffed by the Uruguayan.

Cesar Azpilicueta did not look comfortable at left back against RodrigoCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

Thankfully Chelsea have a world-class keeper behind their back four in KepaCredit: Reuters

And when the home side took the lead, it had an air of inevitability about it.

Ready supplier Rodrigo whipped in another superb cross and it as N’Golo Kante who left Carlos Soler unattended as the Spaniard ghosted into the box to side-foot home.

FALL OF CESAR

Part of the problem is that Christensen and Zouma don’t attack the ball like a John Terry or Ricardo Carvalho.

And uncomfortable Azpilicueta is not a left-back.

Thankfully, Chelsea have Kepa Arrizabalaga behind them — and his penalty save from Daniel Parejo was out of this world.

But with the Blues 2-1 up, Daniel Wass’ ball whipped in from the right was designed for a man in the middle.

However, he mishit it… to perfection.

The ball clattered in off Kepa’s far post and in, somehow.

Both sides simply thought: why stop there?

Instead the game continued at its breathless end-to-end fashion and stoppage time was more of an ice hockey match than a football match.

Having seen Gomez’s miss earlier, Rodrigo replicated the effort with a missed sitter that makes you realise why he has never been snapped up by Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Chelsea need to win against Lille in 13 days’ time top guarantee progress.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk