Speaking live on Sky Sports Now at 10:05 am on September 21st, Arsenal legend Alan Smith discussed Cesc Fabregas’ fine display during Chelsea’s 4-2 EFL Cup win over Leicester City last night.
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Chelsea are now fifth in the Premier League with three wins, one defeat and a draw, while the Foxes didn’t have an impressive start to their season.
The Premier League champions host Antonio Conte’s side in the third round of the EFL Cup and the Londoners will have Kante in tow following his big-money move to Stamford Bridge during the close-season.
Despite his standout performance, Conte has refused to guarantee that the Spaniard will be part of the starting group for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Arsenal on Saturday. “Hopefully this will shut up a few journalists who are talking rubbish all the time and focus on what is important – Chelsea winning”, he said. I then watched him when he was manager at Siena and together we were at national teams with Greece and Italy.
A first-half brace from Shinji Okazaki had put Claudio Ranieri’s charges 2-0 up in the game at the King Power stadium.
But it took just four minutes of extra-time for Chelsea to win it, with Fabregas putting the Blues into the hat for the fourth round.
“I think the key was when we conceded a goal from the last corner of the first half”.
They say patience is a virtue and Nathaniel Chalobah must have plenty of it after waiting 11 years before FINALLY making his Chelsea first team debut. “It’s important when I call someone to play to show me my choice is not wrong”, the Italian coach added.
Granit Xhaka rifled in the opener from distance and Lucas Perez scored a penalty and a fine individual goal. When you’re 2-0 up you’re comfortable, but all of a sudden it’s 2-1 at half-time, and that gave us a lift. I know things are new and we’re trying to learn, but we started really sloppy.
With extra time approaching, Leicester defender Marcin Wasilewski was sent off for a second yellow card after a clumsy charge into Diego Costa, swinging the momentum Chelsea’s way. “We want to go as far as we can in the League Cup and we will try”.
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Liam is ESPN FC’s Chelsea correspondent.
