Chelsea's recent defeat at Brighton has led to a wave of criticism, with football pundit Gary Neville particularly harsh on Blues defender Levi Colwill. The young player was singled out for his role in the hosts' second goal, which contributed significantly to Chelsea's 3-0 loss.
Chelsea endured a forgettable night away at Brighton, with their defence breached three times. This heavy defeat means that Enzo Maresca's side has now only managed two victories in their last nine Premier League matches.
Levi Colwill, a product of the Chelsea academy who had previously impressed since breaking into the first team, found himself under fire for his performance during this match.
Neville’s savage critique
Neville accused Colwill of being "bullied" during the game and was unsparing in his critique after Chelsea suffered their second defeat at Brighton within a week. The former Manchester United man emphasized that certain areas of Colwill's game need significant improvement.
Gary Neville, Manchester United legend, said:
"Colwill has got to get stronger, he’s got to get stronger. He’s getting overpowered quite easily in games that I’ve seen recently. Two or three games that I’ve seen recently, he’s been bullied in that channel. Also, that one [Brighton’s second goal] was a really bad one for him in that he also gives the ball away. But he then sits on the floor, turns around and looks. He spends two or three seconds on the floor. Just get up and sprint back! So that’s a bad habit.
"Look, he’s still young and he’s got a lot of learning to, as have a lot of the young Chelsea players that are playing in these types of positions. But they’ve got to get stronger in their bodies, they’ve got to get really physical and aggressive. That’s tough when you’re a young centre-half that maybe hasn’t developed as fully as you should do yet, but he’s learning on the job and it’s hard work for him at the moment."
The young defender had earlier enjoyed a promising loan spell at Brighton before making it into Chelsea’s first team. However, this recent performance has raised questions about his readiness for high-pressure games and ability to withstand aggressive opponents.
Increasing pressure on Maresca
The worrying run of form for Chelsea is also increasing scrutiny on manager Enzo Maresca. Despite enjoying an impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign, recent results have led fans and pundits alike to question his strategies and decision-making abilities.
Maresca did not shy away from acknowledging these concerns in his post-match assessment but will need to address these issues promptly if he hopes to turn around this troubling trend.
While the criticism directed at young Levi Colwill may seem harsh, it underscores the high expectations and pressures that come with playing for a top Premier League club. Both he and manager Maresca will need to use this as a learning experience and work towards improving their performance in future matches.
