Chelsea 6-3 Leeds: Xabi Alonso 'takes responsibility' as Palmer, Rogers and Welbeck rescue Blues in cup
Chelsea secured a 6-3 comeback win against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup after manager Xabi Alonso made significant tactical changes at halftime. Alonso publicly accepted blame for the team's initial lackluster performance.
Why it matters
This match serves as a case study in effective in-game management and the impact of squad rotation in professional football.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Xabi Alonso needed to call on his bench after a lacklustre start from Chelsea
Football reporter Published 10 September 2026, 00:25 BST Xabi Alonso watched his Chelsea team hit six goals in the second half against Leeds United but felt the need to "take responsibility" for the shaky start that came before the thrilling flurry.
Amid jubilation that followed the final whistle at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea recovered from 2-0 down to progress as 6-3 winners in the Carabao Cup, it was easy to forget that Alonso's side were booed off at half-time.
Supporters witnessed arguably the worst first half of Alonso's short tenure to date, with Chelsea fortunate not to be further in arrears after the head coach made nine changes to his line-up.
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