Chelsea 3-2 Leeds: 5 talking points as Jorginho double secures dramatic last-gasp win

Thomas Tuchel will have been relieved to see his Chelsea side emerge with all three points after a dramatic 3-2 win against Leeds at Stamford Bridge.

Their problems at home have been well-documented after back-to-back 1-1 draws with Burnley and Manchester United, resulting in them losing their spot at the summit of the Premier League.

Tuchel had pointed out the absences of regular first-team members N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Ben Chilwell had resulted in a loss of intensity for his side.

“We’re talking about being relentless,” Tuchel continued. “We talk about N’Golo, we talk about Kovacic, we talk about Chilwell. These guys are about high speed.”

And it was another lacklustre display from the Blues as they fell behind early on.

His side saw another clean sheet disappear after Marcos Alonso caught Daniel James with an ill-timed challenge and Raphinha made no mistake from the penalty spot.

But the Blues rallied despite the raucous atmosphere coming from the away end, with Mason Mount stroking home his six goal of the season from Alonso’s cross.

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Raphinha then paid the price for a risky challenge on Antonio Rudiger and VAR recommended an overturn of the on-pitch decision, with Jorginho striking home with aplomb to complete the turnaround.

Substitute Joe Gelhardt scored just two minutes after coming on to grab a dramatic leveller late on, but Jorginho scored his second from the spot after Mateusz Klich felled Rudiger to snatch the points.

Mirror Football looks at five talking points from Chelsea ’s latest result at Stamford Bridge…

On the balance of play, Leeds deserved a point. But when you shoot yourselves in the foot, expect there to be blood.

Jorginho punished the away side for two clumsy challenges from Raphinha and Klich to battle to a 3-2 win in front of their own fans.

The former generally looked lively and got his name on the scoresheet when he won the battle of wits with Edouard Mendy to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

He also tested the Senegalese with a well-struck free-kick, forcing a fine save from Mendy, and gave the Chelsea defence a scare in the second half after going through one-on-one, although a belated flag would have ruled out his effort.

But his misguided attempt to halt Rudiger on the left flank cost his side what could be a precious point when the hosts were struggling to break them down. It might have needed a VAR review, and the player will argue he got the ball in his challenge.

And yet, his guilty smile after the penalty was given said it all. So often the hero for Leeds, Raphinha will feel his responsibility for their latest defeat - as will Klich - in their battle to survive.

Edouard Mendy and Jorginho were culpable against West Ham. Ross Barkley’s error allowed Zenit St Petersburg to score in midweek.

And against Leeds, Marcos Alonso’s clumsy challenge cost Chelsea at a time when they could not afford to concede.

The Spaniard had been rested in midweek in preparation for this game, as Ben Chilwell’s knee injury making him the only obvious left wing-back in the squad.

But the 30-year-old looked rusty and sluggish as he made a half-hearted challenge on Daniel James inside the box, going for a 50-50. Alonso arrived late, collected James’s trailing leg and referee Chris Kavanagh had no option but to point to the spot.

Chelsea’s defence under Tuchel has been nothing short of magnificent and arguably one of the best in Europe, at least statistically. But there have signs of leakage in the once-impenetrable back five and Tuchel must be frustrated that the goals have largely arrived as a consequence of individual errors.

Heading into the busiest part of the season, the 48-year-old will need his side to stamp out those errors — or face falling behind in the title race.

Leeds were down to the bare bones after injuries to key men such as Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips.

But Marcelo Bielsa has instilled a fighting spirit in his side, who know a relegation battle is more likely than a top-half finish this season.

He had seen Daniel James and Raphinha star in the first half but his side were pegged back and needed a goal late on.

The Argentinian coach has faith in the youth at Elland Road, though, and had no qualms in sending on Joe Gelhardt late on.

And the youngster, signed from Wigan for just £1million, repaid his faith with a clever finish, poking home from Tyler Roberts' cross.

It was a huge moment for the 19-year-old and only his second goal for the club. Based on his ability to impact the game here, Bielsa will surely call on him again soon.

Tuchel didn’t have his favoured No.9 on the pitch. But he could have been mistaken for believing Mason Mount was playing there when considering the nature of his equaliser.

The 22-year-old popped up inside the six-yard box to meet Alonso’s cross with an incisive finish, the kind that managers would expect from a seasoned centre-forward, rather than all-action midfielder.

It is the third game in a row that he has found the net for Chelsea — meaning he has now equalled his goal tally for the entire 2020-21 season.

He has now contributed 10 goals in his 13 appearances this season with six goals and four assists, more than Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner combined.

Mount has established himself as a key player in Tuchel’s setup due to his willingness to press from the front and chase defenders back. Now he’s adding goals into the equation.

He has had his critics after coming into the side under Frank Lampard, but those dissenting voices have been quietened after another impressive display.

Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are no closer to renewing their contracts with Chelsea. In fact, the latter is arguably further away than ever.

But in the eyes of Thomas Tuchel, that is a problem that is further down the line. Right now, his team need their best defence available after conceding five goals in their last two games.

Tuchel had made an intriguing reference to the ongoing contract situation by insisting no player was “bigger than the club”.

Perhaps that was directed at Christensen, who has struggled for form since it emerged he could leave on a free transfer. The Dane was left out of the starting XI, with Cesar Azpilicueta occupying the right-sided centre-back role.

The fact that Rudiger was retained alongside Thiago Silva indicated just how important the 28-year-old is to this side. If reports are correct, Real Madrid are ready to offer the German a £400,00-a-week deal — and Tuchel is doing all he can to keep him at the club.

Rudiger was his usual energetic, aggressive self and amazingly won two penalties for his side thanks to his surges up the pitch, which would have done him some favours in strengthening his cause for a huge pay rise.

On the other hand, Tuchel must fearing what his defence will look like without him — and perhaps Christensen too if he does depart in the summer.

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