LONDON – In principle, Liam Rosenior’s approach on Tuesday night made sense. Away to a superior opponent in the EFL Cup semifinal second leg, trailing by a fine margin, you could talk yourself into waiting an hour before really applying yourself on the contest in any meaningful way.

In practice, this proved to be an almighty misjudgment from an inexperienced head coach, resulting in the cruellest outcome for Chelsea as Kai Havertz, once celebrated by the Blues, punished them by netting the game’s sole goal in the 97th minute after evading Robert Sanchez.

Previously, Chelsea’s strategy appeared overly cautious, allowing the match to drift awaiting an unlikely error from Arsenal or a lucky set piece. Often, they struggled to present a genuine threat to Arsenal’s defense, with their attacks stalling significantly.

Rosenior noted that he had concerns about naming his starting lineup until closer to kickoff, managing the fitness of key stars like Cole Palmer. “He is a gem,” stated Rosenior. “We need him fit for the entire season.”

Post-match, Rosenior explained that both Pedro Neto and Reece James were unavailable due to injuries, increasing the difficulties in his team selection. As a first-time coach in such crucial high-stakes situations, Rosenior had much to learn.

Using Talbot and Estevao as substitutes brought a flicker of hope but ultimately allowed Arsenal’s resolute defense, led by William Saliba, to stymie Chelsea’s advances effectively.

Although Chelsea’s build-up play lacked urgency, Roseniour believed with added energy in the second half, they could unlock Arsenal’s defenses, saying the psychological aspects were crucial. However, Arsenal displayed the composure needed for a final, unlike Chelsea, who crumbled under pressure.

Declan Rice remarked, “Going into the game today, we knew we had the lead, we didn’t want to put pressure on ourselves.” It was evident that Chelsea struggled with understanding the game’s essentials, failing to impose themselves appropriately.

In summary, this cautious approach resulted in Chelsea’s elimination from the competition, showcasing that at this level, a blend of tactical and psychological finesse is essential for success.