Chelsea have their back four to thank for the point they earned at the Etihad yesterday.
Chelsea drew 1-1 with Manchester City and the likes of Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill were excellent.
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol, speaking on ESPN FC, has now urged Mauricio Pochettino not to break up that central defensive partnership.
Disasi and Thiago Silva have been Pochettino’s main centre-back pairing this season, but with the latter injured, Colwill started in central defence and really impressed there.
He made 10 clearances yesterday, with only Disasi managing more after recording 16 (WhoScored).
Steve Nicol thinks Mauricio Pochettino should stick with Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill
Nicol is convinced Disasi and Colwill need to be Chelsea’s central defensive partnership going forward following the City game.
On the duo, the ESPN pundit said: “Axel Disasi almost couldn’t put a foot wrong. And Colwill, this playing Colwill at left-back for most of the season, I hope that Pochettino realises what he’s got now because this pairing has shown what they’re capable of. So how about you stick with them?”
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Will Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill both start in central defence against Liverpool?
Chelsea’s next game is the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. If their upcoming fixture was a regular league match, based on how Disasi and Colwill played versus City, Pochettino probably would have gone with that again.
However, a cup final against strong opposition in Liverpool, you suspect that he may go with Silva’s experience if the Brazilian is fit enough to play.
Going forward, though, with Silva’s contract expiring in the summer, Colwill and Disasi could easily become Chelsea’s main centre-back pairing if they can put in more performances like the one yesterday.
Pochettino still has Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah as well. The last of that trio made his first appearance of the season at the Etihad after returning from injury.
The Argentine, then, certainly has options. Who he goes with at Wembley next Sunday could give an indication to what both his short-term and long-term plans are.
