Chelsea’s unbeaten record under Mauricio Pochettino continued as they secured a 1-1 draw against Newcastle in Atlanta. Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring early on, but Miguel Almiron’s strike just before half time equalized for Newcastle.
The match started cautiously, with both teams aiming to gain sharpness during their pre-season encounter. CFC’s first meaningful chance resulted in Jackson’s goal, thanks to a well-executed pass from Ian Maatsen. Newcastle’s response came through Almiron, a returning hero who once played for Atlanta United.
During the second half, both teams made several substitutions, which led to a decrease in the game’s pace. Christopher Nkunku and Conor Gallagher had attempts on goal, while Chelsea pushed hard for a late winning goal. However, Nick Pope’s impressive save denied Ben Chilwell’s shot during added time. As a result, the match ended in a draw, with both teams sharing the spoils in the Premier League Summer Series pre-season clash.
Consequently, Newcastle finds themselves second-bottom in their friendly group with two points, while The Blues move up to second place with four points after two games, having secured a victory against the Seagulls in their friendly tournament opener.
As both teams made numerous changes throughout the match, with Chelsea making more than Newcastle, it provided Mauricio Pochettino and Eddie Howe an opportunity to assess the state of their squads ahead of the start of the 2023-24 campaign, despite key injuries.
Here are three Blues talking points from Chelsea’s third Pre-Season match against Newcastle:
Reece James is back for Chelsea and his dream becomes reality!
Reece James played his first match since April, lasting 65 minutes, and faced a tough challenge against the in-form Gordon. He needed more game time to regain his full form, and especially in the early stages, the former Evertonian managed to get past him a couple of times, which can be forgiven.
The most intriguing part of his return was when Pochettino handed him the captain’s armband, just a day after expressing his interest in the position permanently during a press conference. The manager now faces a decision as other seniors players such as Thiago Silva and Kepa Arrizabalaga are also strong candidates.
Currently, James appears to be the top choice – a guaranteed starter if fit and a strong voice in the team, having been nurtured in the academy. The English international mentioned that some of his teammates lacked commitment last season, but this upcoming season, there’s a fresh and positive energy within the squad.
Ian Maatsen’s versatility will become useful
Maatsen, typically a left-back, has showcased his versatility during the pre-season by playing as a left-wing in the first two games and then adjusting to an even more unfamiliar right-wing position against Newcastle. Despite these changes, he continues to impress. His tactical discipline has been remarkable, and he has quickly adapted to Mauricio Pochettino’s game plan.
Functioning as an inverted winger, Maatsen has effectively connected all phases of play, exemplified by his well-timed through ball that assisted Nicolas Jackson, highlighting his significant technical and tactical contributions to the team.
The left-footed player enjoyed significant freedom in the system, allowing them to drift inside and find pockets of space. This created opportunities for the overlapping right-back, Reece James, to capitalize on the space and actively contribute to the team’s attacking moves.
Is that Nico Jackson or Didier Drogba in disguise?
With each passing game, the comparison between Nicolas Jackson and peak Didier Drogba becomes increasingly valid. Jackson possesses the raw ingredients of hunger and tenacity, along with the crucial ability to score goals and make runs behind center-backs, making him a handful for opponents.
During his 45-minute appearance, he once again left a significant impression, showcasing his cool finishing by slotting the ball into the bottom corner after outmaneuvering Sven Botman. Senegalese’s power was evident when he left two Newcastle players in a heap near the corner flag after they attempted to challenge him. Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his growing trust in Jackson during this trip, indicating that he may lead the line in The Blues’ Premier League opener against Liverpool.
For how long Chelsea has been in need of this? Since Diego Costa, CFC have lacked a dependable striker, with a series of imperfect fits and promising players struggling to fill the central role in the team. Although it’s still early days, Jackson seems to have the potential to make it work and become that much-needed reliable striker for the Pride of London. Looks like there’s no need to overspend on another striker for now! On Sunday, Chelsea will wrap up their pre-season Premier League series with a match against fellow West London rivals, Fulham, at the FedEx Field in Maryland.