In the aftermath of Chelsea’s second goal, defender Levi Colwill faced scrutiny for his perceived weakness in the Premier League match against Manchester United. Alan Shearer, a prominent figure in football, criticized Colwill’s role in United’s second goal, where Scott McTominay capitalized on defensive lapses.
Despite Chelsea’s recent 3-2 victory over Brighton, the team struggled to maintain momentum. Colwill’s shaky defending allowed McTominay to score two goals just before halftime. With nearly twenty-five shots on goal from the hosts, Chelsea appeared fatigued and lacked effective strategies to thwart United’s relentless attacks.
The contentious moment involved Colwill, playing as a left-back, allowing McTominay to head in a cross from Alejandro Garnacho. The referee, backed by a VAR review, controversially allowed the goal, dismissing Colwill’s protests for a foul. Shearer defended the referee’s decision and criticized Colwill for going to ground too easily.
Describing Colwill’s defending as “really weak,” Shearer argued that the physical engagement between players didn’t warrant a foul. Pundit Patrice Evra echoed this sentiment, noting that Colwill went down “really softly.” Chelsea icon Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink emphasized the importance of strength and effective defending in the box, regardless of a player’s size or stature.
The consensus among pundits was that McTominay’s determination played a crucial role in securing the goal, overshadowing Colwill’s defensive lapse. While Shearer acknowledged the VAR review, he maintained that the defense should have handled the situation better. Hasselbaink stressed the necessity for defenders to remain strong in their box and avoid mistakes, emphasizing that size or stature should not compromise defensive capabilities.
