Chelsea take a healthy lead with them to France with a 2-0 win at Stamford bridge courtesy of goals from Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz.
It was an end to end match, Lille offered some moments of attacking threat with Renato Sanches driving from midfield and shooting over the bar in the first half and some crosses into the box using Marcos Alonso’s side as a target. Thiago Silva and Thomas Tuchel were bellowing at Alonso for allowing the overlaps and over the top ball’s, the saving grace for Alonso being the veteran Brazilian clearing everything in his way, the calmness of Thiago Silva spreads a positive energy across the other Cb’s, today being Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, who also had solid games, the real question if anything that Thomas Tuchel will be pondering is if he opts for the experience of Alonso in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, or turns to Malang Sarr, who has also performed to a decent level in LWB and LB as of late:
Chelsea’s first goal came from a Hakim Ziyech corner with Havertz having a clear run into the box and a downwards header into the ground and into the net, Havertz did everything today in the absence of Lukaku and it was a refreshing site for many Chelsea fans, Havertz showed signs of spearheading last season’s fluid attack, he took up good positions, pressed well, dropped deep and linked up play, released the ball fast, took players on and was a threat in the air, Tuchel will now have to decide after watching today’s performance from the attack if he sticks with the likes of Pulisic and Havertz and potentially Ziyech ( although he went off with injury ) or turns back to Romelu Lukaku, or does he opt with a 4-2-2-2 with 2 strikers, or maybe a 3-5-2? In my opinion, Chelsea play the best with Havertz as a lone striker without Lukaku, it will be a big few days ahead for Tuchel and his coaching staff with the decision set to be made before Sunday.
N’Golo Kante was also a huge standout from the game, claiming MOTM, he was the driving force behind Chelsea’s attacks from midfield and set up Christian Pulisic who slotted home the 2nd goal, not only that, he contributed defensively, totting up 4 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Overall, a solid, relatively comfortable home win and some much needed confidence ahead of another cup final on Sunday, which could be Tuchel’s 4th trophy since taking charge of Chelsea.
Starting 11 Player ratings :
Mendy – 7
Christensen – 8
Silva – 9
Rudiger – 7.5
Alonso – 4.5
Azpi – 5.5
Kovacic – 6
Kante – 9
Pulisic – 9
Havertz – 9.5
Ziyech – 6.5
