Chelsea’s games of the season (for now): Hat tricks, big wins and wild draws
Chelsea have at least 10 games remaining in the 2019/20 season. Assuming those never happen, here are the best of what we had.
Football’s first-ever virus interruptus suspended Chelsea in fourth-place in the Premier League, in a deep hole in the Champions League Round of 16 and the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Here are the top games that brought the Blues to this point, in case the coronavirus denies us anything more than could be even better.
Chelsea 4 – 0 Everton, Premier League (Varun Dani)
While the 5-2 away victory to Wolves certainly captures the theme of Chelsea’s youth revolution season, the victory against the Merseysiders was one with underrated narratives of vindication and swan song.
In a season full of youthful energy, it became easy to forget the old guard who have helped the club in times of peril without receiving the appreciation they deserve. Yes, I’m talking about Marcos Alonso, Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud.
Willian is most abused out of proportion to the value many fans will realise only when he’s gone. Then, and only then, will they tweet his picture with the caption “Unpopular Opinion: One of Chelsea’s most underrated and reliable players.”
The same can be said about Alonso, Pedro and Giroud, who were given the cold shoulder for most of the season, but maintained utmost professionalism until their chances came. And when their team needed them the most, they delivered in the most spectacular fashion.
The win against Everton was the best of all season, with Chelsea playing smooth football with absolute concentration, with these four players central to the victory.
They are all in their final years playing for the club. Here’s hoping their service will be remembered as it should be: fondly.
Chelsea 4 – 4 Ajax, Champions League group stage (Nate Hofmann)
Absolute scenes. To wit:
2’ – Kurt Zouma own goal (0-1)
4’ – Jorginho penalty (1-1)
20’ – Quincy Promes goal (1-2)
35’ – Hakim Ziyech goal (1-3)
55’ – Donny van de Beek goal (1-4)
63’ – Cesar Azpilicueta goal (2-4)
68-69’ – Back-to-back red cards for Daley Blind and Joel Veltman
71’ – Jorginho penalty (3-4)
74’ – Reece James goal (4-4)
78’ – Cesar Azpilicueta goal ruled out by VAR
90’ – Incredible save by Andre Onana
And don’t forget that this match probably earned Hakim Ziyech his upcoming move to Chelsea. If you want to convince a friend to get into football, show them this match.
Burnley 2 – 4 Chelsea, Premier League (Tan Yi Hao)
Much as was the case with Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic’s £58 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund was met with much skepticism amongst Chelsea fans. To many, it was a PR move to garner the support of more American fans. On the basis of Pulisic’s limited impact in his first few months, it would seem the doubters were right.
Following weeks of being benched and being left out of the team altogether, Christian Pulisic’s perfect hat trick at Turf Moor truly announced his arrival in the Premier League.
Together with Kovacic, Pulisic’s directness and electrifying pace would go some way in filling the Eden Hazard-shaped void. The game against Burnley was just the stage the young American needed.
Chelsea 2 – 0 Liverpool, FA Cup (Barrett Rouen)
Their fans have been so annoying, pretentious and self-congratulatory all year despite not having won the league yet that this game ruined a wonderful run by a wonderful team. Beating them was wildly satisfying.
Liverpool 2 – 2 Chelsea, UEFA Super Cup (Olaoluwa Nwobodo)
I enjoyed this game for so many reasons. One of them was the intensity with which Chelsea played for 120 minutes. The high intensity press Chelsea subjected Liverpool to was so great that Liverpool did not have space to play.
Out-pressing a team like Jurgen Klopp’s is particularly pleasing because it showed that Lampard knew what he was trying to get from the team, and communicated it well to them. Liverpool looked suffocated. They lost the ball in their defensive and middle thirds several times. It was a joy to watch.
dark. Next. Players of the season (for now): Experience overtakes youth
The match also showed this Chelsea team can match any team, as long as they kept their intensity. It gave a reassurance that, though Hazard was gone, the Blues had a plan to keep winning.