Chelsea’s hopes of securing Champions League football took another heavy blow on Sunday, falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United.
Romeo Lavia Takes Responsibility for Newcastle Defeat – But Is He Really to Blame?
In what was billed as a must-win clash for both sides, the Blues were left licking their wounds after a chaotic first half – one that saw Nicolas Jackson sent off and a costly mistake lead to the opening goal.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t Jackson – whose reckless challenge saw him sent off just before halftime – who took responsibility in the aftermath.
Instead, young midfielder Romeo Lavia stepped forward, owning up to his error that led to Newcastle’s first goal.
Taking to Instagram after the match, Lavia admitted he was at fault for losing possession in a dangerous area, which directly resulted in Alexander Isak’s opener for the Magpies.
“On me,” he wrote – a simple but powerful statement of accountability from the 20-year-old Belgian.
While fans appreciated the honesty and maturity from Lavia, many believe the blame lies elsewhere. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was quick to point out that Nicolas Jackson’s red card was the real turning point in the match.
With Chelsea down to 10 men and chasing the game, the odds were stacked against them from the moment the striker walked off the pitch.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca addressed Jackson’s dismissal post-match, stating that the forward must “learn from this situation.”
With only two games left this season, Jackson will now miss both, and Chelsea need back-to-back wins to have any hope of securing a top-four finish.
Despite Lavia’s mistake, fans and pundits agree the defeat wasn’t solely down to him. These things happen in football – players lose the ball. What matters is how the team responds. Unfortunately for Chelsea, the overall performance in the first half was far from good enough.
With just two matches remaining, Chelsea’s margin for error is gone. And while Lavia’s maturity is commendable, the Blues need leadership and discipline from all corners – especially from senior players like Jackson – if they’re to salvage their season.
