Chelsea player’s poor form has surprised Martin Keown, some ‘schoolboy defending’
Chelsea fans do not need to be reminded that the club’s biggest weakness is the defence. Despite the additions of Emi Martinez, Maxence Lacroix and others, Martin Keown isn’t impressed.
Xabi Alonso has taken on six games since becoming Chelsea manager, and watched his side concede 12 times. Just one clean sheet has come Alonso’s way, and it came against League One side Luton Town.
What did you make of Emi Martinez’s debut? Is he the missing piece for Chelsea to win the league?
Chelsea might have scored 18 goals in those six games, but they have not kept a clean sheet in 20 Premier League games. It is the worst record Chelsea have endured in the top flight for a huge 65 years.
Martin Keown criticises Emi Martinez since his move to Chelsea
Something needs to change, with Alonso even requesting a boring 1-0 in his press conference. Martin Keown says the form of Emi Martinez in particular has surprised him, claiming he’s not been himself.
While many felt Martinez was going to be a quality signing – John Terry claimed he was the signing of the summer – Martinez has started slowly. According to Keown, Martinez has been his normal self just yet.
“If you want to be champions, you have to find the balance. They are a great team going forward. There’s a lot of schoolboy defending going on; it’s a little bit basic,” Keown said during his analysis on TalkSPORT.
“The goalkeeper has not been quite himself since he’s come in; there have been a few set-pieces in and around him. They’re too open. The goalkeeper, it feels like he’s having to do too much, to save too much.
“Is he the only leader? But I do think this manager will change the culture, and I have no doubt they will challenge for the title,” Keown continued, discussing Martinez’s form since his £7.5m move to Chelsea.
Do Chelsea have a concern regarding Emi Martinez?
When Alonso opted to bite the bullet and send Robert Sanchez to Como, replacing him with Martinez, many felt Chelsea’s goalkeeping issues would come to an end. But Martinez has flattered to deceive.
Take his performance against Hull. Some brilliant saves to deny Hull another second-half goal, making two close-range stops – but he failed to deal with a corner before Hull’s second goal, another mistake.
He has now conceded seven goals in three Premier League games, yet to win a clean sheet. Jamie Carragher thinks Martinez is no longer the goalkeeper he once was during the 2022 World Cup win.
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