3rd December 2025. English Premier League.
A few days ago, Leeds fans were resigned to the inevitability of suffering three defeats this week, more than likely three heavy and humiliating defeats. Now, having discovered that a new formation appears to have greatly strengthened the team and having ‘beaten’ Manchester City 1-2 over 45 minutes at the Etihad and now having beaten the ‘World Champions’ over 90 minutes at Elland Road, many Leeds fans are dreaming about the possibility at least of beating the English Champions when they arrive on Saturday evening. It’s a funny old game, isn’t it?
Chelsea bossed the possession last night to the tune of 71% but Leeds created more shots, had more shots on target, won more corners and more big chances; in short, Leeds were the better team overall, as we have been in several games this season when we haven’t necessarily reaped the rewards we deserved. We used the ball far better than our billion-pound opponents. This time, the crucial moments in the game went our way; we took our chances when they cropped up; and we remained alert and focused throughout, apart from one piece of defending that reminded us we still have much work to do to get our rearguard organisation fully in shape.
Leeds were ‘on it’ from the start and, not for the first time this season, we grabbed a priceless early lead. When Daniel Farke tried Jaka Bijol in place of Pascal Struijk a few games ago, there was a resounding “meh!” from Leeds fans. In a traditional 4-4-2 formation, Bijol didn’t look like an upgrade, and indeed, he lacked the forward drive we are used to seeing from Pascal. What we did know, though, was that for his native Slovenia, Jaka was getting rave reviews for his performances in the centre of a back three/five. With all of our centre-backs now fit, Farke was finally able to try Bijol in the same role for Leeds in that second half at the Etihad, and it seemed to work. It seemed to work last night, too, but the big bonus was that we now had yet another giant player to send forward for set pieces, something we have anticipated all season but which, largely due to injuries to one or more of those giants, never happened. The way Bijol rose at the front post to power a header past Sanchez suggested we have actually unearthed another gem.
We were ahead after only six minutes and, for once, we didn’t let that fact alter the way we played. We made the most of the limited possession we had and nullified anything a strangely subdued Chelsea could put together. I’m sure, like me, though, most Leeds fans expected Chelsea to level at some point. To go further ahead, just before the break settled the nerves.
When Ao Tanaka scuffed a good chance wide, weakly sending his left foot sweep past the right post, I turned to my buddy on the Kop and told him, “I wish Ao could shoot!” It turned out to be one of those deliciously ironic moments that crop up from time to time when watching this beautiful game of ours. In the 43rd minute, a Chelsea defender thought he had more time than he did. Nmecha took the ball from him, Jayden Bogle pushed the ball through to Tanaka again, and this time, with his right foot, he simply drove the ball wide of Sanchez and low into the corner of the net! As sweet a strike as you will ever see! It was perfect football from Leeds; great pressing, good vision to spot a pass and a fine finish. It was the sort of perfection we need to show more often; it’s what is standard in the Premier League, and it almost looked as if Chelsea didn’t think we could operate at that level, so casual were they in defence at times.
There was a moment, just five minutes after the break, when it felt as though this was going to be another case of so near and yet so far as Chelsea got a goal back out of nowhere. It was a goal that still bore all the hallmarks of the poor defending we’ve been guilty of for much of the season. Bogle outstripped on the Chelsea left, a simple clipped ball to the back post that caught Gudmundsson in two minds, and then Neto beat Perri at his near post. A horrible goal to concede, but another example that we can study in the days ahead to try to eradicate these soft goals from our repertoire.
For once, having our lead halved didn’t outwardly affect us; we continued to play the same way. We perhaps should have been 3 – 0 up even before the Neto goal, when Nmecha should probably have buried a chance from a right-wing Stach cross. Sanchez blocked that one, but it was a big chance. At 2-1, we were unlucky to have an Nmecha strike ruled offside. Once again, it was Chelsea looking all at sea as Sanchez fluffed a clearance and then three times Leeds players thundered into tackles to keep Chelsea under pressure. Eventually, Nmecha turned and rifled the ball into the top corner, but Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha had earlier strayed offside – something we need to sharpen up on; it happens too often. Not to worry, we did get a third in the 72nd minute, and it was a Christmas gift from the Chelsea defence.
We thought we’d won a free kick on the left when Gudmundsson appeared to be shoved off the ball, but the ref waved play on, perhaps to the surprise of the Chelsea defence as they did that rather guilty-looking thing of spending more time watching the ref than what Leeds were doing. What Leeds were doing was pressing hard again, and Noah Okafor was super-alert as he came up on Tosin’s blind side as the Chelsea man dawdled in the box. Okafor poked the ball away from Tosin, then challenged for the loose ball again with Sanchez, and the keeper fumbled it to leave DCL the easy task of prodding it over the line from a yard out!
There were still twenty-odd minutes to go, but there wasn’t too much drama after that. Chelsea looked what they were, a well-beaten side that knew it wasn’t their night. They probably guessed that when the returning Cole Palmer fired a low shot wide, that, on any other day, I’m sure he’d have scored with. I think we probably need to factor in that Chelsea were very poor last night when pondering how good we were.
So, in summary, a fine team performance from Leeds and another game that showed that IF we can play our ‘A’ game and IF we get the rub of the green, then we are capable of getting a result from any team. It is tempting, but useless, to look back on the sloppy moments that have cost us at least four points this season – Bournemouth, Fulham and that late City winner – four points that would have us sitting in midtable and seven points above the bottom three and with a lot less pressure on our shoulders. As I say, no point crying over that now; we just have to believe and keep playing to our strengths. We still have a long way to go and some tough games in the next few weeks, but hope is alive.
Premier League
Leeds United 3 (Bijol 6’, Tanaka 43’, Calvert-Lewin 72’)
Chelsea 1 (Neto 50’)
Leeds: Perri (GK), Bogle (Justin 86’), Gudmundsson (Bornauw 90+4’), Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin (Piroe 86’), Nmecha (Okafor 67’), Bijol, Stach, Tanaka (Gruev 67’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Aaronson, Harrison, Gnonto.
Chelsea: Sánchez (GK), Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile (Gusto 46’), Fernández (C), Delap (Palmer 61’), Gittens (Garnacho 61’), Santos (Guiu 77’), Pedro, Chalobah, Estêvão (Neto 46’). Subs not used: Jörgensen (GK), Hato, James, Acheampong.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,767
Referee: Darren England
Booked: Stach (Leeds) Estêvão (Chelsea)
