Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink expressed his frustration with Chelsea’s performance against Middlesborough in the EFL Cup.
The Blues suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Middlesborough away from home in the first leg of the competition’s semi-finals.
After missing a number of clear-cut chances with Cole Palmer failing to put the ball into an empty net, the hosts capitalised and scored a smash-and-grab winner through Hayden Hackney’s strike before the break.
Despite creating 18 attempts, Chelsea travelled back to London a goal behind on aggregate but they still hope to recover in the return leg.
“I felt there was a plan [from Chelsea] but they needed to do more to break the lines,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports.
“There needed to be unselfish runs to open the space up. You need to not put crosses in if you only have Raheem Sterling in the box.
“It’s about know-how and understanding your team-mates. It didn’t happen enough with Chelsea. It was slow, it was laboured and there were too many turnovers for Boro to have joy.
“And that’s why they were dangerous. It all starts with the right mentality. It starts with the right mindset. They didn’t put the opposition on the backfoot and they weren’t playing in the right areas,” he added.
Hasselbaink slams Caicedo
The former Chelsea forward went on to criticise summer-signing Moises Caicedo for the goal they conceded and believes the Ecuadorian should work on his defensive game.
“With Caicedo, it becomes a one-versus-one. If you have determination, you don’t lose your one-versus-one. It’s a simple one,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports.
“You just keep running with your man, you stay with him, and at the last moment you give him a little nudge so he cannot put that ball in. He stopped!”
Chelsea have an opportunity to make amends for this defeat, when they face Middlesbrough in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Caicedo will be expected to step up in a big way, and he could yet have the last laugh, if he ends up reaching Wembley and winning the trophy.
Right now it will feel like there is a long way to go. He and the team must make amends for
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