Newcastle dropped all three points against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a crucial match between two of the Premier League’s most underperforming teams.
In their first season under Saudi ownership, the Magpies qualified for the Champions League in 2022/23, while the Blues have previously failed to qualify.
Newcastle have now joined Chelsea in struggling in the middle of the table, and after losing 3-2 to the Blues, they are much more certain to miss out on European competition the next season.
Here are the three Newcastle stars who disappointed the most in Monday’s defeat.
CB Sven Botman
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Sven Botman, one of the continent’s greatest center backs, was a severe letdown in the 2023/24 season, as were numerous of his highly praised teammates.
On this day, the former Lille star looked nothing like a top central defense, allowing Chelsea to score two goals and nearly a third, only to be saved by the offside flag.
Newcastle’s great players need to stand up in crucial games, and Botman failed to do so, allowing three goals to a Chelsea team that generally struggles to reach the back of the net.
CM Joe Willock
Joe Willock, a decent midfielder with attacking potential, offered no genuine offensive danger to the Blues defense in a dismal performance.
Newcastle’s two goals were primarily due to Alexander Isak’s finishing and Jacob Murphy’s impressive performance in place of injured Anthony Gordon.
Willock created little, and while he played hard on defense, it wasn’t enough for the Magpies. They need more from Willock and for him to perform at his peak in terms of invention.
CB Fabian Schär
Fabian Schär and Sven Botman both played a key role in Newcastle’s defensive woes against Chelsea. When on his game, the Swiss international is one of Europe’s top center backs, but that was not the case here.
He hardly intervened defensively, as is his customary style. Schär sets an example with his ball-winning, although he rarely regained possession for his team.
Although Schär hasn’t been as dismal as Botman this season, his performance against Chelsea shows that, like many of his teammates, he isn’t at his peak in 2023/24.
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