Ferdinand Blames Ndidi For Leicester’s FA Cup Loss To Chelsea

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says Ndidi’s poor defending contributed to Chelsea’s goal which resulted to a 1-0 win for the Blues in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

Substitute Ross Barkley took advantage of a slack defending by Leicester to slot home Willian’s cross to send Chelsea into the semi-final.

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And speaking after the match, Ferdinand assessed the only goal of the match and identified where Ndidi should have done better.

“The gap between the centre-backs starts to develop. When that happens, when that big gap comes, the big job is for Ndidi, who has had great reviews for how he’s played over the years, and rightly so,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“Once you see the gap between the centre-backs when the ball’s wide, his job is to drop in, drop in here and be that guard in there. If you keep your eye on Ndidi here, and look how many times he looks over his shoulder to see where Barkley is.

“One look, two looks – when he looks there – he has to drop in there and cover the run from Barkley. He knows he can get in behind Ndidi because he’s not looking.

“Jonny Evans, one of my old team-mates, sees this but he’s marking his man – Tammy Abraham – once he sees it he’ll come over to try and cover. But once this happens at this level, it’s too quick, the quality is too good, it’s a great cross and the timing eliminates defenders out of it.

“Barkley sees the space, darts into it, great ball, great finish. Bad defending from Ndidi and the midfield.”

Chelsea will now face Ferdinand’s former club United for a place in the final.

The second semi-final will see holders Manchester City take on FA Cup most successful side Arsenal.