Chelsea fans were calling David Luiz to be made permanent captain as he was seen comforting Fikayo Tomori following Derby’s 3-2 defeat in the Carabao Cup.
It was a surreal night for Frank Lampard who returned to Stamford Bridge where he won 12 trophies as a player and Chelsea loanees Mason Mount and Tomori also had the chance to impress against their parent club.
However, Tomori’s evening got off to a disastrous start as he deflected Davide Zappacosta’s cross beyond Scott Carson to give Maurizio Sarri’s men the lead in only the fifth minute.
Jack Marriott found an immediate equaliser before lightning struck twice as Richard Keogh’s comical own goal put the Blues back in front midway through the first half.
Decent stuff from #Luiz having a word with #Tomori at the end there ?If anyone can give a word or two of advice after an own goal.. #CHEDER pic.twitter.com/uPqOjczcwM
— Tasha Proctor (@TashaProctor) October 31, 2018
David Luiz consoling Tomori is part of the reason why I lowkey want him to be captain.
— African Giant ?? (@quda_kwashe) October 31, 2018
Luiz showing leadership qualities with Mount pre match and Tomori Post match
— Ben Bell (@benbell98) October 31, 2018
Look at Luiz talking to Tomori. How is this guy not the fucking Captain?
Tomori was a bit nervous at the start, 2nd half, completely assured performance, looked very good.
— NiiNiiFC-BlueLionsTV (@NiiNiiFC) October 31, 2018
Derby leveled once again through Martyn Waghorn but Cesc Fabregas scored what turned out to be the winner at the end of a frantic opening 45 minutes. Eagle-eyed Chelsea supporters spotted Luiz pulling Tomori over for a quiet word after the final whistle. Touch of class from the defender…
Lampard insisted he was proud of Derby ‘spirit’ despite side missing out on a place in the quarter-finals. ‘We really contributed to the night,’ the former Chelsea midfielder told Sky Sports.
‘This is a Chelsea team that were strong in personnel and of course they were going to have the ball and control elements of the game, but if you look at chances created we had more.
‘We gifted them two goals but then we earned ours, and then it was a foul for the third goal. But the pride of the evening overshadows that for me. ‘Now if we don’t carry that performance into the Championship then it’s our fault.’