Michy Batshuayi sets a new standard for Chelsea’s impact subs

Michy Batshuayi’s second Premier League goal came nearly nine months and yet only 100 playing minutes since his first. Well worth the wait.

Chelsea fans – and possibly Michy Batshuayi himself – have spent much of this season wondering why the club paid £32 million for a player that is most used a time-wasting substitute. Batshuayi’s impossibly good humour on Twitter made him a fan favourite, even if he rarely spent enough time in his kit to warrant many footballing reasons for the popularity.

Batshuayi’s time at Chelsea started off promisingly enough. He earned an assist in his Premier League debut in Chelsea’s season-opener, and scored his first Premier League goal in the following game. He made his first start one month later in Chelsea’s EFL Cup tie against Leicester City.

Four days later, Chelsea switched to the 3-4-3 to stop the bleeding against Arsenal. That shift set into motion the events that will conclude with Chelsea raising the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge. Paradoxically, even though Michy Batshuayi’s goal clinched the title, that tactical switch ended Batshuayi’s progression.

Since the Arsenal game Michy Batshuayi has only had three Premier League appearances longer than 10 minutes. He started in Chelsea’s EFL Cup exit and the first two rounds of the FA Cup. Despite scoring against Peterborough and Brentford, Antonio Conte left him out against Wolverhampton. Conte then brought him on so late against Manchester United that he is not even credited with a minute of play.

Batshuayi started against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final. In part this was Conte determining that he was ready for Premier League-level competition. The other side, though, was that Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were much more important to Chelsea’s league ambitions.

With his goal, Michy Batshuayi ensured that Belgian internationals scored the league-winning goal for the third consecutive season. He also likely secured his place in the starting XI for Chelsea’s final two games against Watford and Sunderland. Chelsea’s usual starting XI deserve a rest, and Batshuayi deserves the starts.

Next: Chelsea needed their second striker to find a goal against West Brom

Batshuayi deserves to walk out through the guard of honour. And most of all, he deserves to be on the pitch for the final whistle of the season in which he played such a small but memorable part.