Following Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Mauricio Pochettino decided to make some changes for his side’s trip to Aston Villa last night.
One of them included Benoit Badiashile coming in for Thiago Silva, with the Frenchman partnering Axel Disasi in central defence.
They lost their clean sheet in the end, but Dion Dublin felt that they marshalled the back four well on the night. The former Aston Villa striker was commentating on the game for BBC Radio 5 Live.
Badiashile has been in and out of the team since returning from injury, but he could become a regular starter next season.
Silva’s contract expires in the summer and the Brazilian has hinted that this is his final campaign as a Chelsea player.
Dion Dublin impressed with Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi
Dublin thought Chelsea were really organised last night, largely because of Badiashile and Disasi.
On the two French defenders, he said: “Disasi and Badiashile are marshalling that back-four and it is working for Chelsea. Very organised at the moment, Chelsea.”
Benoit Badiashile likely to start against Crystal Palace
With Badiashile and Disasi having defended well for most of the game and the former not actually conceding a goal while he was on the pitch, you would expect him to keep his place in the team for the Crystal Palace match on Monday.
Whoever starts in the backline, Chelsea need to win following those two humiliating losses against Wolves and Liverpool.
Of course, it stops the rot in their Premier League campaign, but victory versus Roy Hodgson’s side will also keep their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League alive.
Right now, that is all they are playing for in the top flight. Champions League qualification was obviously the objective, but that just seems impossible at this moment in time.
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