An hour or so earlier than kick-off, there was a fox on the unfastened inside Stamford Bridge, working in between the rows of seats within the East Stand.
You probably did wonder if Chelsea would possibly want a kind of within the field, given Enzo Maresca’s beginning line-up confirmed how he had zero strikers on the pitch.
He had three on the bench in Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu – 4 if we rely the academy graduate Tyrique George – however none spearheading his assault.
As a substitute, Maresca used Pedro Neto up prime, presumably as a result of he hoped his velocity may be a weapon in opposition to the Barcelona excessive line.
Nonetheless, Chelsea followers have been nervous, and Every day Mail Sport can be mendacity if we mentioned we too didn’t surprise if this strategy would possibly backfire on the Blues.
We quickly realized we want not have been involved.
Pedro Neto began up entrance for Chelsea in a tactical masterstroke from the supervisor
Enzo Maresca needs to be trusted by Chelsea followers on the subject of making the large calls
Neto performed his function to perfection. He burst in behind. He was key to Chelsea’s opener. He got here near scoring a solo-goal which might have been harking back to the one which Gareth Bale scored in opposition to Barcelona all these years in the past, within the 2014 Copa del Rey closing.
Perhaps it’s time we began trusting Maresca’s tactical selections extra, particularly in these huge matches.
The preliminary response was to query his considering, however his plan labored right here, in addition to his calls did within the Membership World Cup closing in opposition to one other formidable aspect in Paris Saint-Germain.
Taking part in with Gusto
Right here comes a Malo Gusto appreciation merchandise. He’s underrated in what he does for Chelsea, with Maresca asking him to carry out jobs which may usually go neglected in video games.
Take the Membership World Cup closing talked about within the earlier merchandise, for instance. It was no coincidence that Cole Palmer had a lot area to do harm in opposition to PSG. It was aided by Gusto flying down his proper flank to permit Palmer to maneuver inside with out his marker.
We noticed one thing comparable right here. Gusto was sprinting down his wing in order that Estevao might transfer inside and subsequent to Neto. Gusto was eliminated at half-time however solely as a result of he was on a yellow, rightly proven to him for killing a Barcelona counter-attack.
That was intelligent from Chelsea, given what number of purple playing cards they’ve obtained this season. There was no have to run the chance of one other. By ending with 11 males right here, they made it 5 video games with out a dismissal.
Malo Gusto (proper) is an unsung hero for Chelsea and might usually be neglected
Brittle Barca’s histrionics
Chelsea’s Below 19s confronted Barcelona within the UEFA Youth League earlier within the day on Tuesday. It completed 1-1, however one onlooker commented how usually Barca’s gamers have been appearing as if they’d suffered critical accidents, solely to magically recuperate immediately.
We noticed that from the seniors, too, not least in Fermin Lopez. Twice he tried to purchase low-cost penalties on this conflict. First, he dropped down like a sack of spuds in a when Trevoh Chalobah challenged him. Chalobah promptly advised him to rise up.
Then, he tried to purchase one other spot-kick or a possible purple card out of Sanchez when Chelsea’s goalkeeper had cleared the ball and caught him within the follow-through.
Chelsea tried their luck with Lopez in the summertime switch window, apparently logging a bid with Barcelona. Clearly, it was unsuccessful. However the 22-year-old Spaniard would wish to deal higher with our physicality have been he to return to the Premier League sooner or later.
Fermin Lopez tried to purchase a penalty or purple card out of Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez
Battle of the teenagers
Estevao versus Lamine Yamal? It was not even a contest. Chelsea’s wonderkid received that battle, whereas Barcelona’s sensation walked off the pitch appeared ever so barely miffed.
He did have the whole lot of Stamford Bridge satirically cheering his substitution, in equity.
You think it will have been the primary of many battles between these super-starlets, and Chelsea followers wouldn’t swap Estevao for anybody. Even Yamal.
