Diego Moreira received a fairly harsh grilling in the media after his first-team debut for Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Chelsea had to come from behind to beat League Two side AFC Wimbledon 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup second round, with goals from Noni Madueke and Enzo Fernandez saving their blushes.
The Blues now know they’ll host Brighton at home in the third round of the domestic cup competition.
Diego Moreira, who’s just 19, was handed a start by Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino last night.
The Portuguese youngster impressed during pre-season when around the main squad, but yesterday was his first competitive action with the seniors.
Unfortunately, the left-winger only lasted the opening 45 minutes before he was substituted off at half time.
The Evening Standard certainly didn’t hold back with a firm match rating for the Chelsea teenager:
They wrote: “Diego Moreira – 2/10. Arguably had no positive actions, struggled early on and appeared to lose his head. Taken off at half-time.”
It’s very disappointing to hear such a negative verdict on Moreira’s first senior outing, but now certainly isn’t the time to write him off completely.
Our guess is Pochettino will now have a decision to make over whether the young wide player is loaned out in the final hours of the summer transfer window.
Yes, he’s clearly still a raw talent trying to put the pieces together. There’s a reason the Blues signed him in the first place, though.
On a more brighter note, Chelsea youngster Noni Madueke did receive praise for his own individual display on the opposite flank. Scott Minto claimd on talkSPORT 2 last night that Madueke was “dangerous” and the best player on the pitch against AFC Wimbledon.
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