On the surface, it sounds a bit absurd to say that Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, a team that just conceded four goals at home in the Champions League group stage could win the whole competition. However, it’s not as far fetched as it seems.
Chelsea’s heart pumping- or heart-stopping- 4-4 draw with Ajax Tuesday night shows they have what’s needed to conquer Europe. It probably won’t be this year, but Chelsea have all the makings required to win the Champions League and add a trophy to the cabinet in west London in the near future.
Chelsea Never Say Die
When Cesar Azpilicueta scored Chelsea’s fifth goal of the night, and his second against Ajax, he, his teammates, all of Stamford Bridge, and every Blues fan watching somewhere else went absolutely bonkers. It was the comeback of the century for the club, shattering the Richter scale.
Moments later, though, VAR chopped off the goal and reduced the score back to 4-4. And while that somewhat sucked the life out of west London, Chelsea didn’t stop there. They pushed on. Michy Batshuayi came close to winning it in the dying stages only for the Dutch side’s keeper, Andre Onana, to save it at full stretch.
The Blues didn’t give up after VAR cruelly robbed them of one of the greatest Champions League comebacks of all time. They never wavered. That determination and resiliency is certainly needed to win the Champions League.
Admittedly, they don’t have the toughest group and coming back from three down against Ajax is not the same as reversing a deficit against Juventus or Barcelona. Duly noted. It is, though, a step in the right direction. When the Blues do face adversity against one of Europe’s true elites, they’ll have the confidence they can make a comeback, again.
Every team has their backs against the wall at some point in the competition. Indeed, this was a massive step, confidence boost, and learning experience for Chelsea as a team. Especially considering the many players making their first foray in Europe.
Young Core, Long Term
This is a place where Chelsea separates itself from other young, raw teams. Last season, Ajax reached the semifinals with young players announcing themselves to the world as they upended Real Madrid and Juventus.
Then, Frankie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt left the Dutch giants in the summer. And certainly, more will follow suit this coming summer. The club and fans know and accept this as the case. Ajax are a selling club.
Borussia Dortmund, another world-renown talent factory, knows their best players will eventually leave too. Dortmund reached the Champions League final in 2013 and lost star playmaker Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich that summer and world-class striker Robert Lewandowski the next.
These players move on for bigger and green pastures, both competition wise and monetarily. However, Chelsea already play in the Premier League and Champions League. How much bigger of a stage and better competition could their young players chase?
Moreover, Chelsea have the finances to keep them where the Dutch and Bundesliga sides generally don’t. Or at least they choose not to pay substantial salaries like the English sides. And because of that, Chelsea doesn’t have to worry about losing their bright, young talents. They can and will keep them. Chelsea is not a selling club.
Fierce Competition Benefitting All
The young core at Chelsea is driving this revival of the club in a big way. Reece James, 19, scored the equalizer and Christian Pulisic, 21, drew the foul for the first penalty and set up the second goal with his pass across the box against Ajax.
Beyond this one game, Tammy Abraham, 22, has his name in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot. Mason Mount, 20, is making a case for Premier League Young Player Of The Year. Fikayo Tomori, 21, has displaced Brazil, German, and Danish internationals with World Cup experience (David Luiz who was sold, Antonio Rudiger who’s been hurt, and Andreas Christensen who rides the bench) and stakes his claim as Chelsea’s best defender each week. Callum Hudson-Odoi, 19 years old on November 7th, is first off the bench and worthy of a starting role after making impacts off the bench each time out.
The youngsters are not simply knocking on the door. They’re smashing it down and giving the manager a good headache when choosing his XI. This competition within the squad is pushing every player to raise their game and play at their very best every match. Because if they don’t, they’ll find themselves watching from the touchline very quickly.
This extends to the veterans as well. James has twice recently come on at right-back, pushing captain Cesar Azpilicueta to left-back, and both Marcos Alonso and Emerson to the bench. Pedro barely gets a sniff of the pitch will all the talented wingers in front of him. And World Cup Winner Olivier Giroud sits behind two strikers who haven’t reached their prime.
A Chelsea player must perform at their peak if they want to play regularly in this Frank Lampard side.
Managerial X-Factor
And finally, Chelsea’s manager is flourishing. Frank Lampard started the year poorly but has since turned it around. His substitutions now prove correct and crucial, evidenced by James scoring against Ajax after coming on at the half.
Also, in the reverse fixture in Amsterdam, substitutes Pulisic and Batshuayi combined for the lone goal and winner. And in the second group stage match at Lille, substitute Hudson-Odoi assisted Willian’s winning strike.
And in all three of those games, Chelsea have come on stronger after the half meaning Lampard’s team talks and tactical adjustments are working and allowing his side to win.
Winning games comes down to the players executing. Having a manager that can positively affect the game sure does help, though. And in high stakes moments, a manager that make good decisions can give the team that little edge needed when margins are so fine.
Chelsea Will Rise
Over the past few years, Chelsea regressed a bit into mediocrity, or at least mediocrity in terms of their aspirations after arguably being the most successful team in England since the turn of the millennium.
Now, though, Chelsea are rocketing upward. They have a youthful exuberance about them on and off the pitch emanating from the players, the manager, and the fans. The club has an unbelievable amount of talent burgeoning and the ability to keep them all in west London for a long time. Their comeback from 4-1 down in the second half in the Champions League to draw 4-4 displayed their talent, perseverance, character, and never say die attitude.
It may not be this year, and probably won’t be, especially with their defensive frailties on set pieces, but Chelsea have all the makings of a team ascending not only to conquer their domestic rivals but their European rivals as well.
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