‘I just didn’t see’: Eddie Howe shares what Chelsea did which shocked him last night

Eddie Howe, manager of Newcastle United, admits he did not see Chelsea’s goal against his team yesterday night coming.

Mykhailo Mudryk scored at the very end of the Carabao Cup quarter-final match between the two Premier League clubs, sending the game to penalties.

And, speaking to NUFC TV, Eddie Howe stated that he did not expect Chelsea to equalize.

The Magpies got the lead in the first half and were able to keep it for the most of the game owing to some good defending. However, a blunder by Kieran Trippier allowed Mudryk to tuck the ball into Martin Dubravka’s bottom corner.

Eddie Howe surprised by Chelsea goal

Howe did not expect Chelsea to score since Newcastle kept their shape and defense so well.

“Our defensive positioning first, covering space, and individual duels, battles, I thought we were really good,” the 46-year-old said of his team’s late goal. We were a true counter-threat in the first half, which was fantastic to witness, but we lost that threat in the second. But as we became tired and lost our legs a little, we sort of accepted our role and I assumed we’d make it through the game.

“I didn’t see them scoring at that point.” I just didn’t see them scoring; we appeared to be at ease and to have absorbed the majority of their threats. They changed stuff, but it didn’t really affect the game’s flow. The goal is simply one of the many things that can happen on a football field because there are so many different moments and things that can happen.”

 

Mykhailo Mudryk’s equaliser for Chelsea a surprise

Howe would not have been the only one at Stamford Bridge who was surprised to see Chelsea score. Some Blues fans would definitely have felt the same way.

There have been several occasions this season when Mauricio Pochettino’s side has failed to break down a deep block. For example, they drew 0-0 with Bournemouth and lost 2-0 to west London rivals Brentford.

Chelsea fans will undoubtedly be pleased, and maybe the club can improve at destroying really low defenses.

The Blues are no longer the team they once were, yet many teams still respect them by defending so deep. Pochettino must devise a strategy to defeat such opponents.