BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea legend Joe Cole has ripped Chelsea worst player apart after sluggish performance against barrow where they emerge victorious in a 5:0 in the Carabao cup third round. He said, “He’s a total flop and an embarrassment to the club! Even against Barrow, he couldn’t do a thing in the full 90 minutes!
Chelsea fans took to social media to express their disappointment with center-back Benoit Badiashile, despite the team’s commanding 5-0 victory over Barrow in the EFL Cup third-round match held on Tuesday, September 24. This match also marked Enzo Maresca’s first League Cup game at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea delivered a decisive win.
Christopher Nkunku was the star of the match, achieving a remarkable hat-trick with goals in the 8th, 15th, and 75th minutes. New recruit Pedro Neto also found the back of the net in the 48th minute, while a costly own goal by Barrow’s goalkeeper, Paul Farman, in the 28th minute, added to Chelsea’s dominance. The result was a convincing 5-0 scoreline that sent Chelsea comfortably through to the next round of the competition.
Despite this resounding victory, many Chelsea supporters voiced their dissatisfaction with Badiashile’s defensive performance. While the French center-back managed to contribute eight clearances, two interceptions, and one tackle during the game, he also lost possession six times. Fans, who took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), voiced their displeasure, with some even questioning his place in the starting eleven.
One fan remarked, “Badiashile is so lucky to be at this club,” while another commented bluntly, “Badiashile is actually terrible.” A third expressed their dismay, writing, “What happened to Badiashile, man?”
Some fans even compared Badiashile to former Chelsea players, with one particularly frustrated supporter stating, “The fact that Badiashile is still here is why I can’t take this club seriously. First, we let Don Azpi go to keep a guy who’s been out longer than he’s been here, and the wall TS6, for this of all people. Man walked the ball into his own net, I can never forgive that.”
Amid the criticism, certain fans began discussing potential replacements for Badiashile. One supporter raised the question, “What’s your thoughts on Chelsea being linked to Jules Kounde?” Another fan responded, suggesting it “wouldn’t be a bad deal if Badiashile or Disasi leaves.”
However, it appears Chelsea’s pursuit of Barcelona’s Jules Kounde has cooled. Initially, Chelsea had shown interest in the versatile right-back as a possible substitute for Reece James, who has been sidelined since his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion in May. Kounde has become a vital part of Barcelona’s lineup under manager Hansi Flick, featuring in every game of the season so far and contributing both a goal and an assist across seven appearances.
Given Kounde’s significance to Barcelona, the club has made it clear that he is not available for transfer, and he is expected to remain with the team until his contract expires in June 2027. Consequently, Chelsea is reportedly shifting its attention to Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode as a more feasible alternative to reinforce their defense.
