Two words: Anthony . . . Taylor . . . and that’s putting it politely. I thought England’s premier, follically challenged referee was having one of his better games during the first half of the Liverpool game. Of course, that changed on the stroke of halftime when—for some reason—he chose to give Reece James a red card. I don’t have a problem with the penalty, you could argue all day about the rules around spot-kicks and how they are given, but a goal was prevented by James’ arm. However, the sending off should never have been, the deflection off the player’s thigh was enough for that red to have been yellow.
In typically entitled fashion, Jurgen Klopp felt post-match that the sending off hindered his side as much as Chelsea. Perhaps his team’s failure to score was because the grass was too green or too long. The fact is the Blues defended brilliantly during the second half and Klopp’s side was unable to break through the solid back line. Thomas Tuchel superbly reorganised his nine outfield players and the whole team executed the plan to perfection. Given the enforced substitution of N’Golo Kante at the break, the feat of a clean sheet was even more impressive because, as we know, the little Frenchman covers the area of two players during a game.
Prior to the sending off, Chelsea had played very well. Kai Havertz scored with a well-executed header that looped deliciously out of Alisson Becker’s reach. Mason Mount missed a chance to double Chelsea’s lead and then the penalty came. Unlike the Super Cup final, Tuchel resisted the urge to bring on penalty boss Kepa Arrizabalaga. Predictably—because, as we know, Edouard Mendy’s a bit rubbish at saving penalties—former Chelsea man Mohamed Salah scored. I like Mendy though, he commands his goal area well. I particularly like that he wears a short-sleeved shirt, quite unusual that for a goalkeeper.
Three more words: International break—boring. We’re three games into the season, everything is settling down and the whole league is disrupted by a series of World Cup qualification games. With domestic football becoming increasingly tribal and all-powerful, national football is seen as a poor relation. Whilst it was gratifying to see England do so well at the Euros this summer, from a personal point of view, Chelsea will always be way more important to me and most other Blues fans, particularly given the global appeal of the Premier League.
The transfer window is now practically closed (some nations still have time left to make moves) and Marina Granovskaia made a deal that at least got Danny Drinkwater away from the club, if only temporarily. Not quite the deal of the window as a total move away would have been, rather than just a loan, but good nonetheless. Who knows, maybe double D will excel with Reading and get his faltering career back on track. It was always a mystery to me where it all went wrong for the, as his new club put it, former England player. That’s harsh, Reading FC.
Ross Barkley now becomes the focus of attention for the lack of attention Tuchel has afforded him. Barkley, like Drinkwater, has struggled since his arrival at the Bridge. Loan spells away have done little to ingratiate him with whoever has been in charge of player selection. It’s unlikely Drinkwater or Barkley will ever don a Chelsea shirt again, not in anger anyway. We always want to see players succeed at Chelsea and it’s a shame they didn’t.
It was good to see a decent incoming arrival too with players leaving in droves. Saul Niguez came from Atletico Madrid via a move that was on-off throughout the latter stages of the transfer window. I’m not going to profess to know a great deal about the Spaniard, however, I know people that do. What I can see from his social media accounts though is a player excited by the challenge of a new club. An added bonus is the fact that he’s not away on the international break and is able to settle into Cobham and get some time with Chelsea’s coaching staff.
With the squad all but settled, I’m more than happy with how the club stands and their chances of success this season. Chelsea looks like it can compete on all fronts under the stewardship of Tuchel, and aside from these benign international intervals, the coming season is going to be an exciting one.