Schalke vs Chelsea – What we learned?
Chelsea put in a very clinical performance on an away day to grab all three points and go top of their Group E in the Champions League. Chelsea hit Schalke on the counter as they put three past the Germans in Gelsenkirchen.
Chelsea made a few changes to the team that beat Cardiff with Gary Cahill starting in defense in place of Luiz after his error in the last game. Azpilicueta started in the left back position which meant that Bertrand had to sit out again even in the absence of the Ashley Cole. Oscar, Hazard and Schurrle were the 3 behind Fernando Torres, who was making his 100th start for Chelsea.
Chelsea grabbed a goal as early as the fifth minute with a nicely taken header from point blank range. Chelsea’s counter attacking style worked to perfection as the next two goals proved. Hazard and Oscar combined who did well to square it to Torres who rounded the keeper and slotted home his second of the night.
The third also came in similar fashion when Hazard ran half the length of the pitch and coolly slotted past Hildebrand to make it 3-0. This was Eden’s first goal in the UEFA Champions League, surely the first of many to come.
So what did we learn?
Chelsea’s last 7 games – A great run!
In the last 7 games have won 6 and drawn only one, and in the process have scored 19 goals. Chelsea is winning games and is on a great run. The team is just getting together. Winning away on theoretically what was the toughest match on paper is commendable. We are improving with every passing game and still haven’t reached our full potential. Rivals beware.
Oscar and Hazard continue to shine
Oscar and Hazard put in a great away day performance for the blues. Both have really matured under Jose, especially Oscar. Hazard is slowly beginning to up his game and has now got 4 goals in his last 3 games for Chelsea.
Jose’s Torres is firing on all cylinders
Torres had a great game yesterday and was very clinical as he scored from the two shots on target and hitting the woodwork with another. He was spectator for most of the game but he capitalized on the chances that came his way. His run that took away the defender for the third goal was also very good. The question that’s on everyone lips again? Is Torres back?
We have had this debate a million times but this time surely the things are for the better. Jose seems to be utilizing Torres to his fullest and his beginning to get the best out of the Spaniard. Will he be able to perform at the level he was performing for Liverpool is out of question but an improvement is all we need and looking at the way things have been improving under Jose, got to say has been really really impressive.
This team is learning to take its chances
Chelsea sat deep and allowed Schalke bulk of the possession, unlike the Chelsea we are used to these days. Schalke had around 60% possession. Chelsea were giving the ball away cheaply and failing to complete passes. Schalke had 676 passes compared to Chelsea’s 461 in the match. The important thing however was Chelsea took their chances and took them very well.
An Assured defense – They key to success
Chelsea have been great as a defensive unit under Jose and continued to do so yesterday vs Schalke, Keeping the Schalke team at bay with resolute defending and a top class keeper and wall in form of Cech.
Chelsea have now kept a clean sheet in 6 of Jose’s 13 matches in charge. A marked difference compared to last season few season when Chelsea were needlessly leaking goals.
Sets this up nicely for the match vs City, our biggest test yet but looking at the form and tactical genius in Jose I am very hopeful.
Up The Chels!
