Last year was a tough season to sit through for any Blues fan. It is not something that can be repeated for Chelsea to be considered top flight, but the Swansea showing was all too familiar.
Chelsea made the worst defence of a title in Premier League history last season. After dominating the 2014/15 season, they disintegrated during the next campaign. It was hoped that all memories of that year would be banished, but the team’s performance against Swansea was worryingly familiar.
Tale of the tape
The match was expected to dominated by Chelsea and it was regardless of the 2-2 scoreline. Chances were plenty, and the Blues were looking at a easy wipe up of the Swans. Things were so easy for them, that most our beloved players seem to turn the intensity down a notch. It went from domination to a shambles in a blink of the eye.
N’Golo Kante was bossing the midfield in the first half like he has done in the first few matches. The midfielder was covering vast yardage and anytime the opposition got on the ball he was there to nick it.
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Eden Hazard, meanwhile, had a decent match, producing quality chances and making a few quality runs. One particularly strong run was capped off by a missed chance that should have been finished with only Lukasz Fabianski in front of him. However, he did not seem to possess that prowess he has displayed thus far this season.
Willian, based on the eye test, was almost invisible. This is why he was subbed off later for Victor Moses as he gave his manager no option. Nemanja Matic playing in front of Kante is not the Matic of old. The two of them can’t seem to stay out of each other’s way. The Serbian was decent defensively but can’t make the necessary passes or make the runs needed playing farther up in the midfield.
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Diego Costa netted two beautiful goals, the only goals Chelsea could muster with so many chances being thrown to waste. The first goal being a side-footed effort from the top of the box, which was slotted into the corner of the net past Fabianski.
Costa also missed a chance a foot from the goal line even though it was easier to score than to miss. The effort would have more than likely put the match away as it would have been 2-0 at half-time.
Chelsea dominated the first half, though the score was only 1-0. When the second half started, it was similar to the first. Great play resulting in missed chances. After multiple opportunities fell by the wayside, a helpless feeling started to set in. About twenty minutes into the second half, things started to fall apart following an atrocious challenge by the Thibaut Courtois.
The air was slowly taken out of Chelsea’s sails. Moments later, Gary Cahill with the ball at his feet turned towards his keeper when Leroy Fer clipped his ankles. Down goes Cahill…no call…Fer proceeds to score making it 2-1.
It suddenly went from Chelsea dominating the match, to Swansea City being on top. As the match proceeded towards the 80th minute, it seemed hopeless. A feeling of no matter what you do, it may not be your day.
All was not lost, though. Branislav Ivanovic then got a rocket of a shot off, but it rebounded off Fabianski. When the ball came down, it found Costa and his second goal was finished in spectacular fashion. It was a magnificent match-tying overhead kick – an epic finish considering the situation.
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Same old, Same old
Chelsea again rescued a result late, but the overriding feeling was one of dread. There are only so many games that you can rely on a late equaliser or winner.
It was a match that was so reminiscent of last year. Not finishing chances, Diego getting wound up by defenders, and players just disappearing while on the pitch. Yes, the one point draw is better than going home empty-handed. But like so many times last year, they lost focus in the middle of a match.
The match should have been killed off by half-time. It should have been done and dusted. Three points secured and on to the next one. Instead Chelsea will be heading into a Friday clash with Jurgen Klopp and his offensively powered Liverpool under pressure.
With questions raised and no convincing answers, it definitely had the aura of the 2015/16 incarnation of the Blues.