‘Great business’ – Hasselbaink praises Chelsea signing after 6-3 win over Leeds | Football
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink praised Xabi Alonso’s decision to sign experienced former England striker Danny Welbeck as Chelsea beat Leeds United in a thrilling Carabao Cup tie.
The Blues looked set to crash out of the cup competition as they trailed 2-0 at home to Leeds but produced a sensational comeback to run out 6-3 winners.
Cole Palmer scored twice in the space of three minutes to bring the cup tie level before Pedro Neto put Chelsea ahead on the hour mark.
Welbeck added a fourth for the hosts who scored four goals in 12 second-half minutes to turn the tie around before Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Leeds renewed hope with a 75th-minute goal.
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But Chelsea were not to be denied a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, with summer signing Valentin Barco settling any nerves with the hosts’ fifth before Welbeck scored his second of the night deep into injury-time.
Ex-Brighton striker Welbeck also scored in Chelsea’s previous Carabao Cup win over Luton Town and Hasselbaink believes he will prove to be a shrewd signing for the Blues.
Chelsea’s talented but inexperienced squad has been crying out for some leadership in recent seasons and Alonso was quick to take up the chance to sign former Manchester United and Arsenal star Welbeck.
Welbeck will largely play back-up to in-form Chelsea striker Joao Pedro but Hasselbaink nevertheless believes he can be an influential figure at Stamford Bridge on and off the pitch.
Asked about Chelsea’s decision to sign Welbeck, Hasselbaink said on Sky Sports: ‘He’s going to add a lot, come on!
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‘He’s played for Arsenal and Manchester United, and did the business for Brighton. He knows he’s not going to be the number one at Chelsea and he will settle for that.
‘But he can give so much to the other players on and off the pitch. He will be talking to the other players and helping that way but also he wants to score and he will want to be on the end of things.
‘It’s a great signing for Chelsea.’
Ex-Premier League defender Conor Coady, who has shared a dressing room with Welbeck for England, added: ‘Everywhere he’s been he’s scored goals, but more than that he’s a leader, a real leader.
‘He’s a top striker but his personality and what he will bring to the group off the pitch, nowhere will really understand the importance of that unless you’re in it.
‘He’s a brilliant professional, as we’ve seen during his career in the Premier League, and I just hope he can go from strength to strength playing for Chelsea.’
Welbeck featured in Chelsea’s match programme for the visit of Leeds and discussed his first few weeks at Stamford Bridge.
‘I feel very privileged to make the switch to Chelsea,’ the 35-year-old said. ‘It’s such a big club.
‘At this stage of my career, it’s massive. I’m very honoured to receive the chance to come here and to be a part of this project. It’s exciting and one where I feel we can build something special.
‘A little bit of talk is about my age, but it’s just talk. I’m here to push on, to improve. I feel really good – fit, strong, and obviously last season I had my best goalscoring season. I’m ready to push on.’
Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday against newly-promoted Hull City.
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‘Great business’ – Hasselbaink praises Chelsea signing after 6-3 win over Leeds | Football
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