Chelsea: The Father of the Pride speaks (Volume VIII)

Chelsea proudly sits top of the Premier League by virtue of the first letter of the club’s name and on Wednesday, moved into the fourth round of the League Cup. It was a good week. There was plenty to cheer and with a host of games coming up, lots to look forward to. The Blues travelled across London to face the old enemy on Sunday afternoon. After what was an underwhelming first half performance against Tottenham Hotspur, Thomas Tuchel showed his class in making the changes necessary to overcome the north London side we always love to beat. To be fair, we love beating Arsenal too, either way, it was a great win.

The first goal of the game was from Thiago Silva, a player who I thought would not make that much impact at Stamford Bridge. I happily hold my hands up and say he’s been a revelation. His attitude has been exemplary, his performance levels scintillating. So often we see players getting toward the end of their careers underperforming, happy to take one last payday, not this Brazilian though. From day one, Silva and his family have bought into Chelsea FC. While he may not have the time to become a legend of the club, cult hero status is definitely on the cards.

Someone else performing at high levels currently is Marcos Alonso. The Spaniard has not always been a fan favourite though. It’s been quite a turnaround for the player who wanted to sit on the team bus having been substituted off at halftime against West Brom. Frank Lampard was the manager at the time and the Blues were 3-0 down with Alonso aiding and abetting the scoreline. So angry was Lampard that some felt the left back was finished at the club. The arrival of Ben Chilwell exacerbated that feeling, but Alonso has fought his way back into the team and while he’s playing well, deserves to be there.

For once, Romelu Lukaku didn’t make the scoresheet. However, the halftime substitute, N’Golo Kante, did. Mason Mount—ooh Yerda alert—made way for the Frenchman, whose ability to be in several places at one time changed the game in Chelsea’s favour. The final goal came courtesy of someone else who can be divisive amongst the fanbase, Antonio Rudiger. Like Alonso though, he’s started the season well and has a big influence on those around him in terms of motivation. Someone else who is deserving of his place right now, but let’s not talk about the salary being mooted in the negotiations to extend his current contract.

Despite the absence of Edouard Mendy, it was good that Kepa Arrizabalaga was able to step into his boots and claim a clean sheet. It’s something that is becoming the standard for this Tuchel team. That good form continued in the League Cup on Wednesday. Having dispatched Aston Villa in the Premier League a couple of weeks ago, Chelsea played host as the two teams squared up once again. The Blues made wholesale changes, as did Villa. I understand the need to rotate players and appreciate most clubs having no desire to win the competition, but for teams like Villa, it’s a genuine chance of winning silverware. It must be so frustrating for the supporters that follow them.

The game itself bought about three surprises, a Timo Werner goal, a start for Chilwell and maybe the biggest news of the week, a substitute appearance of Ross Barkley. The former Everton player has not figured in any of Tuchel’s teams so far this season. Both teams played like they had been heavily rotated and a penalty shoot-out ensued. There was no need for Tuchel to change goalkeepers ahead of the final whistle and Arrizabalaga excelled at shoot-out-housery, getting in the faces of the opposition at any opportunity. In making the saves that won the tie, he broke Petr Cech’s record for the most saves in penalty deciders. We’re very lucky to have two keepers at the club capable of stepping up on the big stage. Tuchel will need to manage them extremely carefully, but both can play their part as we still battle for five more trophies this season.

Having beaten Arsenal and Tottenham and drawn with Liverpool, Manchester City is the latest of the so-called top six to have a go at defeating Chelsea. No doubt, the Citizens will still be smarting from the Champions League Final loss and out for revenge. The game perhaps has more significance this season with the two Blues regarded by many as the only contenders for the Premier League title. Let’s be honest though, it is only one game and with Chelsea in first place courtesy of the alphabet, we have to be thankful ‘C’ comes before ‘L’ and ‘M’.