Benoit Badiashile nails starting place under Mauricio Pochettino with stunning performance vs Sheffield United

Despite playing in front of the home crowd and boasting of players that cost as much as in the excess of £200 million on the pitch, Pochettino’s blues looked clueless in the first half against bottom of the league Sheffield United.

This was before a resurgent second half, which saw the superior firepower that Chelsea possess take the game away from a struggling Sheffield side.

Considering noteworthy showings from a couple of players in blue (Caicedo, Gallagher and in particular MOTM Cole Palmer), it is a bit surprising that I’ve decided to highlight the performance of Benoît Badiashile.

“Todd Boehly, went to France in a Lamborghini, brought us back a center back… Benoît Badiashile”.

The above chant is one many Chelsea fans are familiar with, all thanks to the superb performances of Benoît Badiashile.

Joining in January of 2023 from Monaco for a fee rumored to be around £34 million, Badiashile has arguably been Chelsea’s best defender when fit.

Exuding calmness on the ball and never seen to be flustered or ruffled by any opposition attacker, 34 million of British finest pounds seems a bargain for Badia.

Whether it’s stepping up aggressively and following his man deep into midfield or mopping up behind his defensive partner, he never seems out of sorts and it’s become absurd mentioning he’s still only 22 years of age.

Playing as the LCB in a backline of 4 CBs today, Badiashile looked the best of the lot with all 4 fit Center-backs at the club on show today at the bridge.

Completing 118 of 128 passes and making 1 key pass shows how much of a weapon Badia could be when afforded time on the ball from deep.

His driving runs with the ball deep into the opposition area are reminiscent of Antonïo Rudiger’s and with teams looking to sit off and defend deep against the blues nowadays, those driving runs could prove to be another way to solving Chelsea’s problems against Low blocks.

3/5 aerials and 6/8 ground duels won shows how strong Badiashile is in the duels and that’s one aspect where the Blues have been a little “soft” with Poch even having to mention that the team needs to be a little more “aggressive”.

Considering the rest of the team suffers from having ‘strong duelers’, it is really important to have a player like him in the team.

He must surely now have nailed a starting spot, and are all hoping the Frenchman continues his good form and remains fit for the rest of the season, especially with a potential pairing of himself and the presently injured Wesley Fofana in the second half of the season very much craved by supporters.

Next up for Chelsea is a Carabão cup tie against Newcastle on Tuesday.