Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy described Enzo Maresca’s decision to substitute Pedro Neto as ‘strange’ and ‘negative’ following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Chelsea were reduced to 10 men after just five minutes when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off for a last-man foul on Bryan Mbeumo.
Maresca immediately reshaped his team with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen replacing Estevao, while Tosin Adarabioyo was brought on for Neto.
But 14 minutes later, Maresca was forced into another change as Cole Palmer was withdrawn due to a groin injury.
Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro put United in front in the first half but United were also reduced to 10 men by the break as the Brazil international was sent off for a second yellow.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Chelsea showed signs of improvement in the second half and pulled a goal back through Trevoh Chalobah in the 80th minute, but Maresca’s side were unable to find an equaliser.
‘I think bringing an extra defending on is understandable and taking off an attacker, but a few minutes later Palmer is off after they’re 1-0 down,’ Murphy said on BBC’s Match of the Day.
‘We felt Neto and Cole Palmer coming off was a really negative move. Okay, we trust his word that he [Palmer] is struggling a bit with injury but maybe he should’ve brought him off at the beginning and left Neto on for his pace.
‘Because even when they got level men second half, they really didn’t have that much of a threat on the break, to beat somebody, there was only Joao Pedro who really had that forward-thinking mentality.’
Rooney also believes Chelsea lacked ‘urgency’ even after United had Casemiro sent off.
‘They had all the imagination on the pitch and I felt that is what was missing for Chelsea,’ Rooney said.
‘They had a lot of possession going side to side second half but they missed that creativity which Neto or Cole Palmer could bring them.
‘I think the change was strange but thankfully it helped United.
‘It was a strange game, I think when it went to 10 men apiece, I just felt there was no urgency from Chelsea to try and get back in the game.
‘Obviously they get one goal back from a cross, there were no crosses in the box, the two crosses in the box they get one goal and then they have another good chance.
‘It was just slow, side to side, yeah the weather was poor but I think if you’re a Chelsea fan you want to see them with a bit more urgency to try to get something from the game.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
