Frank Leboeuf was not impressed by Joao Felix’s invisible performance in Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Apart from the chance he missed early in the game, Felix had very little impact on the game.
Chelsea’s struggles in escaping Real Madrid’s pressing played a big part in it, obviously, but these big games are exactly why he was brought in on a short-term loan for.
In addition to failing to convert his chances, the 23-year-old failed to create any chance for his teammates, too.
Leboeuf suggested it was as if Chelsea did not have any forward in the game.
“Some [Chelsea] players did well, but most of them switched off, I’d say,” the former France international told ESPN FC.
“What happened to Joao Felix today? It was not a derby between Atletico and Real Madrid, it was Chelsea.
“Yet he disappeared.
“Sterling… I’m not talking about him. He disappeared for a long time.”
The Portugal international is not the problem for Chelsea up front, but he is part of the attack that failed to score in their last four games.
Unfortunately for Frank Lampard, the alternative options are not much better, either.
Even the club’s leading goalscorer, Kai Havertz, has not scored in the last month.
The Blues will have a week before they face Real Madrid in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, but considering their recent goalscoring record, the two-goal disadvantage may be an insurmountable gap.
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