Chelsea fans voiced their frustration with center-back Benoit Badiashile, despite their team’s dominant 5-0 win over Barrow in the EFL Cup Round Three on Tuesday, September 24. The match, held at Stamford Bridge, was Enzo Maresca’s first League Cup game in charge, and it ended in an emphatic victory for the Blues.
Christopher Nkunku was the star of the show, netting a hat-trick with goals in the 8th, 15th, and 75th minutes. Pedro Neto, Chelsea’s recent signing, also found the back of the net in the 48th minute, and Barrow’s goalkeeper Paul Farman added to Chelsea’s tally with an own goal in the 28th minute. The Blues cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win, putting on a strong display overall.
However, despite the team’s solid performance, many Chelsea supporters expressed dissatisfaction with Badiashile’s contribution. The French defender managed to make eight clearances, two interceptions, and one tackle during the game, but his performance was marred by six instances where he lost possession. Fans took to social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to voice their concerns over his place in the team. Some supporters went as far as to suggest that Badiashile is not fit to be a regular starter for Chelsea, with one fan saying, “Badiashile is so lucky to be at this club.” Another posted, “Badiashile is actually terrible.” Others echoed similar frustrations, with one fan asking, “What happened to Badiashile, man?”
The criticism of Badiashile didn’t stop there. One particularly disgruntled fan compared him unfavorably to former Chelsea players, commenting, “The fact that Badiashile is still here is why I can’t take this club seriously. First, we let Don Azpi go, and kept a guy who’s been out longer than he’s been here. Then we let go of the wall TS6, for this guy? Man walked the ball into his own net, I can never forgive that.”
In light of Badiashile’s underwhelming performance, some Chelsea fans began speculating about potential replacements for the French defender. There was a conversation about Chelsea’s reported interest in Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, with one fan asking, “What’s your thoughts on Chelsea being linked to Jules Kounde?” Another responded, “Wouldn’t be a bad deal if Badiashile or Disasi leaves.”
Despite these discussions, reports indicate that Chelsea is no longer pursuing Kounde. Initially, the club had been considering the Barcelona defender as a possible replacement for Reece James, who has been out of action since his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion on May 15. Kounde has become a vital part of Barcelona’s squad under manager Hansi Flick, playing every minute this season and contributing a goal and an assist in seven matches. Barcelona has made it clear that Kounde is not available for transfer, and Chelsea has since shifted their attention to Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode as a more affordable alternative.