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Chelsea won their second pre-season match against Malaysia XI with relative ease, scoring 4 goals in the process while conceding just one.
Even though it is too early to tell, some observations just cannot be ignored.
So, let’s begin our analysis by asking ourselves two simple questions.
1. What have we learned?
Defend, defend and more defend!
John Terry and co. – Back at work
Jose Mourinho’s base level philosophy of a solid defence has not changed one bit. No matter how many goals the team scores, the beauty of his game lies in the defence.
Against Malaysia XI, the Chelsea defence was as well organised as a march is in a military regime.
Reading runs of the opponents, keeping an eye out for the through balls, well timed tackles and dominant in the air, John Terry and co. had it all in the match and maintained it for the major part of the game.
Malaysia XI did not have a clear sight of goal for as long as 40 minutes, and finally, when a shot was hit, it was from long out and Mark Schwarzer dealt with it easily.
It was not as much the incapability of the home team as the astute organisation of the defence that made the victory look relatively smooth.
The defensive midfield of Marco van Ginkel and Michael Essien did their job in the first half and provided an unbreakable shield in front of the back four. In the second half, Ramires and Nathaniel Chalobah stepped up to the plate and did the same.
Even the attackers fulfilled their defensive duties with grace, unlike, a certain Fernando Torres.
Chelsea did not get a clean sheet, but Mourinho will be more than happy knowing that they are as closer to be a defensive unit as he would have wanted.
Schwarzer still has it
Still flying high – Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer, 40 years old, signed from Fulham on a one-year deal to provide back up for Petr Cech.
Petr Cech’s position as the Chelsea no.1 has been secure for quite a while now and arrival of Schwarzer might not change that, but it will certainly push Cech to train harder in order to keep hold of the position. Why, you ask?
On a humid night, Mark Schwarzer dominated the box like a lion. He made sure everyone, even his own teammates, know who the boss was. He called for formations, covers, gameplay and caught every ball that came his way while doing so.
Running from one end of the box to the other with lightning speed and distributing the ball inch perfect to the feet of the outfield players made some of the highlights of the match tonight.
One could even say that Schwarzer, who was replaced at the half time by Petr Cech, was the better keeper on the night.
After all, he has ten more years of experience under his belt and boy, did he make them count tonight…
Essien has lost it
That’s gonna hurt – Essien
Gone are the days when Michael Essien was the powerhouse of the Chelsea team.
Essien, on the night, was struggling to find his feet in the game. He also made some ill-timed tackles, which would have made sure that he got sent off in Premier League.
Outperformed by the magnificent Marco van Ginkel, Essien was finding it hard to keep up with the pace of the opponents, and as a result, was seen behind the half line for most part of the match.
His time at the top of the game is coming to a swift end, mainly due to the injuries he has suffered in recent past.
The good part is that he, himself, realises it.
Top Speed
Charged for speeding – Traore
Speed is the attribute you should possess if you are looking to make room for yourself in this Chelsea side.
The extensive build up plays and holding the ball (read AVB and Di Matteo’s Chelsea) tactics have been thrown out of the window.
The new Chelsea is all about speed and mobility in the top half. While the midfielders try and gain possession, there are at least two attackers breathing down the neck of the last line of the opponent’s defence, ready to pounce at the first sight of the ball.
Wingers are not as prominent as they were in Mourinho’s last Chelsea reign. Players out wide are merely being used as a decoy to open up spaces in defence. Crossing and lobbing are things of the past.
The idea is simple, get the ball, run with it, score a goal. And that is exactly what this player did.
Luk who’s here
Making a point, Lukaku style!
After a season as sensational as the last one, Romelu Lukaku was bound to be in the thick of the things at Stamford Bridge. However, not many would have thought that his time to shine would come so soon.
With 41,500 spectators watching, Lukaku broke the offside trap, gathered a through ball from van Ginkel and slotted it past the goalkeeper with ease.
Keeping the goal aside, the man was a monster, who terrorized the defence since the word go. He closed them down within a fraction of seconds and outmuscled his way out of many challenges.
Lukaku’s speed only adds to the devastation he creates. His time at West Bromwich Albion has helped him become a better footballer as he can hold the ball, trick it past the defenders and he has developed an eye for the final killer pass.
If Mourinho does stick with him as the first choice striker, he will surely not regret it. More of the same, please.
De Bruyne breaks a leg
Magic before the agony – De Bruyne
Literally.
The guy scored a cracker of a goal, only to misplace his footing and injure his knee while doing so.
Match was 29 minutes old when Kevin De Bruyne got on the end of a lob from Lukaku and scored a stunning half-volley.
The celebrations were cut short because De Bruyne, while he scored, landed in an awkward position, injuring his knee in the process. He was stretchered off and replaced by 17-year-old Islam Feruz, who was making his Chelsea debut.
Prior to the injury, De Bruyne was perfect in his role as the decoy for the defence as he ran in and out wide constantly, keeping the defenders on their toes. He produced three killer balls, which could have ended the match there and then.
The Belgian kept the defenders guessing and was able to cut past them through some eye catching footwork.
Even though he was back on the bench during the second half, expect him to remain on the sidelines for a couple of weeks.
Hazard had a lot to digest
Fab from the flab – Hazard
Did anybody notice the beer belly on Eden Hazard?
It seems like the holiday season has taken its toll on the young Belgian hotshot.
His belly, however, took nothing away from his game, well, maybe his reaction time.
By no means was he the brightest star on the field, but with some rigorous training sessions and some valuable game time, we will surely see the best of him again.
Cheers to you, Hazard!
Old School Van
Van’s the man – Marco van Ginkel
He might look like Justin Beiber, but the guy is as far from him as the North Pole is from the South.
Marco van Ginkel is one of those old school, hard-but-fair tackling midfielders who has been repackaged according to the needs of this era.
His tackles throughout the night were inch perfect and he was not afraid to go for the ball, even against the stronger players of the opposition.
Add to that the speed that he possesses and the eye to pick out a fine pass, and you have the ingredients to bake a perfect midfielder of the modern era.
van Ginkel ran tirelessly for 66 minutes and chased down every ball that passed him by. If this is his fitness level in the second pre-season match of the year, then imagine what he can do when he is back to his full fitness.
This van will be parked at Stamford Bridge for years to come.
2. What do we know?
What we know is that it was just the second pre-season match. The season is yet to start and the quality of the opposition is bound to get better with time.
Only the test of time will determine the fate of ‘New Chelsea’. Till then, much like Liverpool’s playing style under Rafael Benitez, we can only ‘hit and hope.’
