Pundits call on Tuchel to axe Chelsea star for CL final after Wembley error

Jorginho TEAMtalk

Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole both believe that midfielder Jorginho was at fault for Leicester City’s winning goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

In a tight, tense game at Wembley, Youri Tielemans’ thunderous long-range effort in the second half secured the Foxes the trophy for the first time in their history. Chelsea did think they had equalised late on but VAR ruled out what would have been an own goal due to Ben Chilwell being marginally offside.

When analysing Leicester’s winning strike, both Ferdinand and Cole criticised Jorginho over his failure to close down Tielemans quickly enough before his strike, which flew past a helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga.

“This is one area I don’t like in his game is that he can’t get across the ground,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“He should be the one getting across there [to stop Tielemans]. He shouldn’t be pointing at a defender to get out [to Tielemans]. If Thiago [Silva] goes there he leaves the space and [Jamie] Vardy’s in.”

Meanwhile, Cole believes that Thomas Tuchel should now consider Jorginho’s place for the Champions League final against Manchester City later this month.

“There are holes in this games and that’s one of them,” said Cole. “He knew he didn’t have the legs to get there, so he’s trying to dictate to people around him.

Transfer Chatter: Man Utd search for new defender, Tottenham fight for Boateng

Transfer Chatter: Man Utd search for new defender, Tottenham fight for Boateng

Man Utd have devised a three-man shortlist for a new defender while Monaco have joined Tottenham in the chase for Jerome Boateng.

“There will always be frailties. I’m not worried about in the week when he gave the ball away [for Arsenal’s goal] because that’s very rare, but that happens a lot in his game.

“I think now Thomas Tuchel when he’s thinking about the Champions League final, you can’t leave Phil Foden or Riyad Mahrez in that situation, you’ve got to get out there.

“I don’t want to take anything away from the strike. But from a Chelsea performance and a defensive perspective, if you’re playing that role, first and foremost before anything you do with the ball you’ve got to stop that from happening, and he didn’t do that tonight.

“Tuchel’s got a big decision, not only Tuesday night [against Leicester] but in the Champions League final. Jorginho’s a fabulous player on the ball but there are holes in his game.”


Give our social media channels a follow – we’re on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram


Wright blames Tuchel for tactical error

Meanwhile, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright feels Thomas Tuchel made one crucial positional error that contributed to the cup final defeat.

The Blues went into the Wembley encounter as slight favourites. But Youri Tielemans’ second-half strike ensured it was the Foxes who lifted the famous trophy for the first time in their history. The loss means the Stamford Bridge outfit can now concentrate on the Champions League final.

But Wright feels the German tactician got one thing wrong in his selection for the north London showpiece.

“I think you have to say Reece James did a good job, but I think for me that was a bit of a mistake from Tuchel,” he told BBC Sport. “I would’ve played Reece James on the right because I think they lost that thrust.”

READ MORE: Tuchel repeatedly blames one thing for Chelsea defeat