Mustapha SheiduWayne Rooney makes expert observation about Everton’s defeat to Chelsea that no-one else has mentioned yet
In the aftermath of Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025, former Toffee Wayne Rooney offered a sharp, under-the-radar analysis that cuts deeper than the usual post-match critiques. While many focused on Chelsea’s clinical finishing from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto in the first half, or Everton’s missed opportunities—like Iliman Ndiaye hitting the post late on—Rooney pinpointed a tactical flaw in David Moyes’ approach that few others have highlighted.
Speaking as a pundit, Rooney praised the Everton players for their effort, noting they battled hard and created moments that could have changed the game. However, he argued that Moyes was overly conservative, lacking the proactivity needed to unsettle a vulnerable Chelsea side coming off a winless run. “David Moyes wasn’t proactive enough,” Rooney observed. “He played it safe, sitting deep and hoping to hit on the counter, but against a team with Palmer’s quality, you have to press higher and disrupt their rhythm early.”Rooney, who knows Moyes well from their time together at Everton, suggested the manager’s setup allowed Chelsea to dictate possession (around 60%) and exploit transitions. Everton threatened sporadically—Jack Grealish and Ndiaye caused problems—but never sustained pressure. This conservatism, Rooney claims, prevented the team from building momentum after early setbacks, like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s injury.
Crucially, Rooney emphasised the need for “more grit at the end.” Despite trailing 2-0 at halftime, Everton showed fight in the second half but lacked that ruthless determination to throw caution to the wind. “The players tried, no doubt,” he said, “but in those final stages, you need extra grit—throwing bodies forward, risking it all—to claw back against top sides.”
This observation stands out because it defends the squad while subtly questioning Moyes’ caution in a must-not-lose scenario for Chelsea. As Everton sit eighth on 24 points, Rooney’s words could spark debate: in a league where boldness often pays, was Moyes’ safety-first mentality the unseen killer?
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