21 photographs, no targets - Chelsea's 'no No 9 impact' Picture: Joao Felix noticed a string of possibilities fall his method in Dortmund as Chelsea failed to attain It has been a painfully acquainted story for Chelsea. They lack the innovative to see off their opposition with no recognised No 9 to focus on and …
It has been a painfully acquainted story for Chelsea. They lack the innovative to see off their opposition with no recognised No 9 to focus on and whereas this isn’t a brand new drawback, it’s one Graham Potter should now clear up together with his new-look, multi-million pound squad.
It is clear the expertise is there. Mykhailo Mudryk appears extra assured with each sport and Joao Felix was spectacular in opposition to Dortmund on Wednesday, discovering these intelligent pockets of area. He had plenty of possibilities fall his method and on one other evening, may have scored a hat-trick.
Enzo Fernandez was far quieter and was caught out by Karim Adeyemi’s velocity for Dortmund’s aim, whereas Chelsea’s different attack-minded gamers resembling Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz had transient moments of high quality.
The stats converse for themselves. Chelsea had 21 photographs, eight on the right track and an xG of two.13 however no targets to point out for it. Away from the numbers, they went toe-to-toe with an in-form Dortmund in some of the intimidating stadiums in European soccer, and dominated the second half.
“The efficiency was an enormous step ahead for us tonight,” Potter rightly concluded, however the easy reality is that and not using a recognised and dependable No 9, Chelsea will proceed to wrestle.
However gamers like which are at a premium they usually command the charges as such. Even the free-spending Todd Boehly can’t magic up a striker if there are none available
You’re additionally left to marvel why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was neglected of the Champions League squad when targets are Chelsea’s Achilles heel.
On the plus facet, Chelsea have been fairly good defensively. Sure, they have been left quick on the counter, however by and enormous, they did effectively and it’s a welcome sight to see Reece James and Ben Chilwell beginning collectively once more for the primary time since October.
And the components is sort of straightforward actually – in the event that they Chelsea begin placing a couple of extra of these 21 possibilities away on the different finish and maintain it comparatively tight on the again, they are going to enhance their type.
However in the end their defeat in Dortmund – whereas not a important blow but to their Champions League hopes – epitomised simply how their lack of a No 9 continues to have a detrimental impact.
Charlotte Marsh
Borussia Dortmund didn’t make it via the group phases final season however they didn’t have the Yellow Wall in its full power again then. The choice to not implement the set up of seats on the well-known terrace for Champions League video games may have an effect.
That’s the way it felt as they repelled Chelsea’s assaults within the second half, urging the defenders into blocks, pleading with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to maintain the opposition out. Twelfth man? That doesn’t appear to do it justice when there are over 20,000 within the Sudtribune.
They have been in place even earlier than the gamers started their warm-up, an element all through. “It was further loud,” mentioned Dortmund coach Edin Terzic afterwards. “You might already really feel it throughout the warm-up. Our supporters actually knocked the ball out of the park tonight.”
A extra assured staff than Chelsea could effectively have punished Dortmund, however. They are going to hope to do the job themselves as soon as in entrance of their very own followers within the second leg in March. It might actually be a shock if Terzic’s facet go all the way in which on this competitors.
However the sight of Kobel taking the gang’s applause lengthy after the ultimate whistle, left you questioning how a lot that mattered. This was not a staff over-celebrating halfway via a tie. Only a membership revelling in that union between participant and fan. The Yellow Wall restored.
Adam Bate
Antonio Conte will rue the defensive sloppiness that allowed Brahim Diaz to attain AC Milan’s winner at San Siro however there have been positives for him to take from Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat too. First, that Spurs saved the tie open forward of the second leg. And second, the performances of Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp in his midfield.
Sarr had by no means beforehand featured within the competitors. In truth, this was solely the 20-year-old’s sixth look for Spurs in any competitors. However along with Skipp, a full Champions League debutant himself at 22, he didn’t look misplaced.
The pair have been thrust into motion because of circumstance, in fact, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg suspended and Rodrigo Bentancur becoming a member of the injured Yves Bissouma on the sidelines when he ruptured his ACL in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Leicester within the Premier League.
However up in opposition to a vastly extra skilled midfield duo of Sandro Tonali and Rade Krunic, they competed effectively, utilizing the ball tidily and, in Sarr’s case particularly, defending tigerishly.
The Senegal worldwide made 5 tackles and regained possession 12 instances – 4 greater than some other participant on the pitch.
“It is good to have the supervisor’s belief,” Skipp instructed BT Sport afterwards, earlier than Conte added, in his personal interview, the academy product and his youthful team-mate had “repaid” that belief. “I am actually glad for each gamers,” added the Spurs boss.
In Hojbjerg, Conte ought to have no less than certainly one of his lacking midfielders again for subsequent month’s second leg in north London, however Sarr and Skipp have proven they’ll ship when known as upon.
“To have this type of performances from Skippy and Sarr makes me extra relaxed,” added Conte. “I do know I can belief them 100 per cent.”
Nick Wright
There was little or no to get enthusiastic about on the San Siro on Tuesday evening.
However AC Milan’s star ahead Rafael Leao was the exception. Regardless of not having a decisive impression on the tie, the Portugal worldwide managed to dazzle on Milan’s return to the Champions League knockout phases after 9 years away.
Leao teased Tottenham together with his fast ft and confirmed precisely why he is such a needed man. He accomplished the identical variety of dribbles (9) as each different participant on the pitch mixed. That’s greater than any participant has accomplished in a single Champions League sport this season.
Despite the fact that he takes extra dangers than most, Leao hardly loses the ball. Spurs solely managed to dispossess him twice as he tried a match-high 12 dribbles, double the quantity of the following closest participant. The ball appears to stay to his ft to the annoyance of opposition defenders, who can solely resort to hacking him down.
Leao makes use of his giant body to good impact within the bodily battle, too. No participant received extra duels than him on Tuesday evening (13) as he saved Spurs’ susceptible defence on the again foot.
The turgid tempo of Tuesday’s sport might need pushed some neutrals to a Valentine’s Day various, however Leao is the form of participant that may have you ever sticking round to observe simply in case. His unpredictability leaves you feeling like one thing particular may occur at any second when he is on the pitch.
The one criticism that may very well be levelled at Leao on Tuesday evening was his hesitation to cross earlier. As quickly as he began to ship the ball into Spurs’ field, Milan have been offered with two wonderful possibilities to increase their lead and he in all probability ought to have come away with an help.
Leao stays at an deadlock with the Italian champions over a contract extension together with his deal up in June 2024. Premier League golf equipment will nearly actually come calling if these negotiations rumbled on into the summer time.
Zinny Boswell
Keep in touch with our news & offers
