Praise for ‘exceptional’ Colwill after Chelsea defender’s comeback

Calum McFarlane labelled Levi Colwill’s performance as “exceptional” after the defender made a successful return to action in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

Colwill, recently back from a long-term knee injury, played the full 90 minutes at Anfield as the Blues ended a six-match losing run with a hard-earned point.

Interim head coach McFarlane was full of praise for the 23-year-old and suggested he has now put himself firmly in contention to start against Manchester City next weekend in the FA Cup final.

“I thought he was exceptional today,” McFarlane said.

“I’m really pleased for Levi. He’s been injured for a long time.

“To play his first 90 minutes at Anfield away, when the team aren’t particularly in the best form, to go and put that level of performance in, doesn’t only show his level of talent and quality, it shows his mentality.”

McFarlane utilised Marc Cucurella in a more advanced role on the left -a  tactical move he felt caused Liverpool problems.

He said: “Cucurella is not a winger, but even when he plays left-back or when he rolls into midfield, his movement off the ball is of a real high quality.

“It’s something that we knew with him in that position we could maybe expose. I thought he was unlucky not to get an assist.”