After an unbeaten November in all competitions, Chelsea returns to their usual dismay as they suffer a shock 3-1 defeat to then-18th-place Leeds and a difficult draw against Bournemouth, who were on a 5-game winless streak.
They conceded off a corner, an excellent long shot and a mistake from centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, leading to an easy tap-in. All in all, Chelsea was exposed and suffered the same defensive issues they’ve had all season, preventing fans from earnestly believing in a title charge.
Since Enzo Maresca took charge, Chelsea has struggled with set pieces, crosses and playing under pressure, and this season, an alarming standout has featured in virtually every loss. Tosin. In all 13 games he has started/played the majority of, his record is 1-1-1 in the Champions League, 1-0-0 in the League Cup, with 3 goals conceded, and 3-1-2 in England.
When Chelsea has won both Champions League games without him, 4-2-2 in the League, and 1-0-0 in the League Cup, with 1 goal conceded. It begs the question: Is Tosin the reason for Chelsea’s defensive issues, or the main victim under Maresca?
Chelsea’s defensive issues
Chelsea’s defensive fragility has been predictably and persistently evident. In the seven league games, Chelsea conceded 2+ goals; Tosin played in 5 of them. In Europe, it’s 3/5, and in the League Cup, Tosin started in a near-collapse of a 3-4 narrow win against Wolves, where Chelsea nearly blew a 3-goal lead in the second half.
Chelsea’s defence this season has a particular weakness that’s exposed in every game they’ve not won: their ability to deal with pressure and high balls into the box. 8/15 of Chelsea’s goals conceded came from balls launched into the box – A weakness highlighted by Sunderland’s goals against them earlier this season.
Compounding this is a tendency for significant individual errors, with Tosin, Trevoh Chalobah, and Benoit Badiashille standing out. The statistics are revealing: Chelsea’s win rate with Tosin on the pitch is just 44%, compared to 67% without him.
Despite having the 4th best aerial duel success rate in the league – 4.85 per 90 – this alone doesn’t absolve Tosin from broader defensive woes. He ranks a distant 152nd in tackles made, 184th in tackles winning possession of the ball, and 312th in the number of dribblers tackled (1), all lower than his defensive partners. The issue is one of volume and presence: he usually succeeds in the challenges he commits to, but he does not engage enough.
Opponents have identified and exploited his passivity. In nearly every goal conceded, there’s a pattern. Tosin is targeted with high balls or isolated in one-on-one duels, which he struggles to defend consistently. While Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Marc Cucurella may have lower aerial success rates, they attempt far more defensive actions and are thus better equipped to handle this direct pressure.
Now it’s easy to blame Tosin, and fans are doing so (Instagram, 2025), demanding prospects Josh Acheampong or Aaron Anselmino to start over him. With Maresca’s pleas for a new centerback being ignored despite identical problems last season, many fans see Tosin’s problems as a personnel issue rather than a tactical one. But how much of it is down to him? Tosin may be the most visible symptom, but he’s not the sole cause of Chelsea’s defensive disease.
But is it fair to attribute everything to one player? The systemic setup, a high line susceptible to long balls, and a partnership with Chalobah that lacks complementary strengths suggest the problem is broader. Tosin may be the most visible symptom, but he is not the sole cause of Chelsea’s defensive disease.
Maresca’s tactics: Are they to blame?
Under Maresca, Chelsea has been undisciplined, picking up 27 yellow cards and four red cards. They’re last on the fair play table. Chalobah and Gusto alone make up half of Chelsea’s red cards. It’s a shaky foundation, but one player cannot build/ break a defence.
Maresca’s system is philosophically clear: play out from the goalkeeper and invite pressure in tight spaces to exploit the openings left behind. In theory, Chelsea’s ideal defenders for this approach would be Reece James, Marc Cucurella, and Wesley Fofana—players strong in long passing, aerial duels, interceptions, and shutting down wide threats. In truth, James and Fofana are chronically unavailable, while the usual first-choice centerback, Levi Colwill, is injured until next year.
The players Maresca has, however, do not perform consistently. Malo Gusto is often criticised for not playing players in their best position.
He had a breakout season under Pochettino in a standard fullback role, but now struggles in his new position under Maresca. He’s now tasked with inverting into the midfield, dribbling, running into attacking spaces and creating chances; he’s unable to use his key asset: his crossing. Gusto’s offensive and defensive contributions have declined since Pochettino was manager, and the version of Gusto that flourished with six assists before Maresca has yet to reappear.
Trevoh Chalobah, often Tosin’s centre-back partner, has received similar criticism. Together, their record is an underwhelming 3-1-3, and the partnership is doomed. Chalobah is the more aggressive of the two, stepping out to tackle, intercept, and even drive forward with the ball. His progressive passes and carries more than double Tosin’s (FBref.com, 2025b), and he poses more of a goal threat.
Yet for all his proactive defending, Chalobah shares Tosin’s physical frailties. He often mistimes challenges, and although he makes fewer direct errors, his lack of discipline exceeds Tosin. Both struggle in a high line, vulnerable to long balls over the top, and both are part of a set-piece defence unit that too often leaves opponents unmarked at the near or far post.
Questioning Maresca’s tactics is valid – largely his habit of using players out of position – but context matters. He acknowledged his issues last season, and yet the board spent close to £300 million without signing a centre-back. Injury-prone defenders and consistent injuries have forced Maresca to play a less-than-ideal defensive pairing. However, Tosin and Chalobah do not work well together in a back four. Each has performed better alongside others, but until the squad is deepened or the system adapted, Chelsea’s defensive disarray looks set to continue.
Verdict
While the data casts Tosin as a clear weak point, his flaws are magnified by a fragile system and an ill-suited partnership. Maresca’s tactics demand proactive, physically dominant defenders, yet his squad is riddled with players who are either injured or misused. The board’s failure to reinforce the backline has left Chelsea with a doomed centre-back pairing, making Tosin the most visible symptom of a deeper, institutional disease. The problem is not solely his, but the solution will not be found with him in this role. Until the system is adjusted or the personnel are upgraded, the defensive failures will persist.