Afrigather The primary speaking factors from Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge because the Blues proceed to search for their first residence win of the league season. It nearly felt becoming that 48 hours after Chelsea spent the entire of switch deadline day attempting to signal Victor Osimhen, it was their ending that allow them down towards Crystal Palace…..CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
The primary-half was wonderful. There was management, there have been alternatives, there was aggression and there have been just about no possibilities for the visiting Eagles at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea boasted 58 per cent of possession when the half-time whistle blew. It was correct Enzo Maresca ball.
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The management was there, the persistence was there and the Blues have been pushing and pushing so as to add to their one purpose. Satirically, that opening purpose got here from a counter-attack; a swift transition that Maresca admitted after the sport suited Palace greater than his aspect. It began with Levi Colwill, who performed a superb recreation up towards the damaging and scarily sturdy Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Colwill gained the ball again and set Noni Madueke away. The in-form Chelsea winger then bombed down the right-hand aspect earlier than discovering Cole Palmer, who made the run past, and the England worldwide squared the ball to Nicolas Jackson within the six-yard field.
It was a extremely, very nice purpose from a Blues perspective however a passage one wouldn’t normally affiliate with Maresca. The remainder of the half, although, noticed Chelsea hold the ball properly – and, crucially, in significant and harmful areas. They have been disillusioned to not be multiple purpose up as they headed again down the tunnel at a scorching scorching Stamford Bridge.
Oliver Glasner then shuffled his pack. And he received it spot on. Palace began the second-half within the ascendancy and made their stress rely when the incredible Eberechi Eze curled one in from the sting of the field.
From then on, Palace knew – roughly – how to deal with Chelsea’s midfielders and attackers. Enzo Fernandez shone within the first-half however the guests did a fantastic job of reducing off the Argentine’s provide line within the second interval – that in flip hampered Chelsea. However possibilities have been nonetheless created…
A becoming Osimhen second
Chelsea have been attempting onerous for Osimhen within the closing few days of the summer time switch window. Blues officers spent deadline day in Naples attempting to barter a take care of Napoli and phrases with the Nigeria worldwide.
Nonetheless, a deal was unable to be completed. soccer.london was informed all through the window that Chelsea would solely have the ability to strike a deal to signal Osimhen ought to the striker conform to decrease his wage calls for. Discovering a compromise was not attainable in the long run.
Nicolas Jackson, although, despatched out a press release early on within the recreation. A query, nearly, asking: ‘Victor who?’, when the Senegal worldwide opened the scoring on 25 minutes for his second of the season.
Information broke earlier than the sport that Jackson had signed a two-year extension on his Chelsea contract to maintain him on the membership till 2033. “I’m very completely happy [Jackson has extended his deal],” Maresca stated post-match.
“Nicolas is doing a incredible job with us, on and off the ball, he scored already two objectives [this season]. He scored once more at the moment. He had one other two possibilities however we’re proud of him.”
These two possibilities Maresca referred to have been absolute golden ones for Chelsea. They each fell in stoppage time, with the match at 1-1. The primary, he has loads of area on the right-hand aspect of the field, and maybe ought to have gone low and onerous throughout Dean Henderson however he as an alternative tried to catch him out on the close to put up – hitting up the side-netting.
The second got here moments later. Jackson really did very well to get within the place; displaying pace, energy and energy – three attributes he has in abundance. However he lacked composure in entrance of purpose on his left foot, with Henderson – to be honest, doing properly – dashing out and saving along with his toes.
There isn’t any assure Osimhen would have scored these possibilities if he was there as an alternative of Jackson. None in any respect. However whereas Jackson reveals loads of promise, this was not the primary time he was responsible of lacking a few large alternatives in entrance of purpose for Chelsea.
This, although, is in no means slating Jackson – removed from it, actually. He has had an excellent yr or so for Chelsea if every little thing is taken into account with context. However not having an alternative choice for a No.9, somebody like Osimhen and even Ivan Toney, seems like a little bit of a chance missed in the summertime switch window for the west Londoners.
Colwill in type now
One of many contenders for Man of the Match was Colwill. The England worldwide was imperious towards Palace on Sunday afternoon. He appeared to relish the bodily battle towards Mateta at Stamford Bridge.
Colwill gained stated battle, too – one thing not too many defenders can say just lately with Mateta being in fantastic type since Glasner took over from Roy Hodgson in February. Final season, we didn’t see Colwill at centre-back many occasions in any respect. As an alternative, Mauricio Pochettino used the Cobham graduate on the left-hand aspect of a again 4.
Chelsea supporters have been crying out for Colwill for use in a extra central position and underneath Maresca, they lastly had their want granted. It has been Colwill alongside Wesley Fofana within the opening three Premier League matches of the season. And whereas the Blues are but to maintain a clear sheet, there have been greater than sufficient indicators that this might be the centre-back duo for a few years to come back.
Somebody so snug, composed and expert on the ball as Colwill appears like he was placed on this earth to play soccer underneath Maresca. However all of us knew he might try this. It’s his defensive work – particularly within the final two matches – that has actually caught the attention of many.
