In games like this, our left and right ‘8’ being quiet (specifically Odegaard) is a systemic issue, not a personal performance one. It’s why Rice was quiet in the first but much more pivotal in the second. Chelsea setting up with a box of 6 meant they were essentially relying on their fullbacks to have the big responsibility of keeping our wingers quiet. It worked for the most part until Saka did what Saka does.

Obviously within the system I don’t think Odegaard is playing as well as he did last season but it’s a natural progression of other teams vs. us. It’s our responsibility to change it up to find a solution to the mitigation of our best creator.