Chelsea display can help Blackburn generate transfer value
Jon Dahl Tomasson stressed the importance of Blackburn Rovers’ players being exposed to top-level opponents after losing 2-0 to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.
Rovers gave a good account of themselves at Stamford Bridge, trying to match Chelsea as they pressed high up the pitch. They were brave on the ball and didn’t abandon the proactive style that Tomasson has drilled into them since arriving at the club.
Naturally, that left space for Chelsea to exploit, though both goals came from mistakes at the back. Leopold Wahlstedt will feel he could’ve done better for the first whilst Callum Brittain was punished for a loose pass by Raheem Sterling.
But if Blackburn want to create a player-trading model that develops young talent and interests Premier League clubs, they have to engrain the qualities necessary to play at the highest level, according to Tomasson.
He spoke openly about the importance of having ‘brave’ players and how playing against such a high-level opponent can help his young team learn about the skills needed to make it at the very highest level.
“If you saw how we can play football, we have a very clear way of playing football against a good Premier League side,” Tomasson said. “We are doing a lot of good things at Rovers.
“I think we coped very well in the first half and so it was disappointing to concede a goal from that set-piece, a bit unlucky. During the second half you saw some legs were getting tired because they’re playing against very good players.
“We should be proud of this performance. There were a few moments in the first half where we could’ve done better in transition when we ran with the ball for too long or didn’t quite make the right decision.
“Every Premier League club wants good players who can play good football and defend as well. Otherwise, there’s no reason to buy my players and our boys can do both.
