Alonso 'takes responsibility' as Chelsea subs rescue cup hopes

What the report says

Chelsea reached the Carabao Cup fourth round after a dramatic 6-3 win over Leeds United at Stamford Bridge, but the result only arrived after a poor start that left head coach Xabi Alonso openly critical of his team’s first-half display. BBC Sport reported that Chelsea were booed off at half-time after falling behind 2-0, with Leeds in control despite both sides making several changes to their line-ups.

Alonso reacted by sending on four established players at the interval, including Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Pedro Neto and Reece James. The substitutions transformed the match, with Palmer scoring twice and Neto also finding the net as Chelsea produced six second-half goals to recover and advance in the EFL Cup third round. Leeds manager Daniel Farke’s team had initially looked set to cause an upset before Chelsea’s stronger bench changed the momentum.

Speaking after the match, Alonso said he accepted responsibility for the difficult opening period and suggested he needed to help his players better from the start. He also said the changes were simply part of the game and that he would learn from the performance.

The article also placed the result in broader context for Chelsea, noting that progression matters in a season without European football and that cup ties offer important minutes for a large squad and younger players. Some fringe players struggled to make an impression, while the turnaround underlined the depth available to Alonso.