IT’S JUST WILLIAN
Brazilian scores early... but Blues miss hatful of chances
It takes some doing to silence the toumba stadium with its thousands of PaOk ultras singing in unison, lighting flares, setting off smoke bombs, sending out piercing whistles.
Willian, captain for the first time competitively, with eden Hazard left at home, relished the challenge in Chelsea’s opening europa League clash of the season.
the Brazilian broke through and scored within seven minutes, bringing a hush over a hostile atmosphere in salonika and settling any nerves in the Premier League visitors. PaOk’s fans soon went back to creating chaos, but as Willian ran into the corner to celebrate, you could finally hear yourself think. Chelsea soaked in every second of the stillness.
the visitors won this via a single goal but could have had five. By full time, the shots tally said it all — Chelsea 22, PaOk three.
‘We were in control of the match for 90 minutes,’ manager Maurizio sarri said. ‘We have had a lot of opportunities. I am very happy with the three points, very happy with the performance, but I am not very happy with the result.
‘When it is time to kill the match we have to kill the match.’
Greek police officers inside the stadium could be seen puffing on cigarettes. Chain- smoker sarri resisted the urge to spark up, despite Chelsea’s wastefulness. alvaro Morata was the main culprit. the £58million striker could have had a hat-trick within 25 minutes. Once again, it was not his night.
‘alvaro has to gain confidence with one, two, three goals,’ sarri said. ‘I am not able to give him confidence. I can try to help him, but the confidence can only come from goals.’
While Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck handed out free packets of crisps in the away end, the home side’s supporters lit their crackers, filling the evening air with smoke.
PaOk president Ivan savvidis is banned from football after walking on to the pitch with a handgun six months ago after his team had a late goal ruled out. Because of the Russian’s actions, PaOk started the season on minus two points, though they have won three from three. the ultras were confident.
Unfortunately for them, so was Willian, who came close to leaving Chelsea in the summer after being left so unhappy under antonio Conte. Made captain by sarri he did not disappoint.
Ross Barkley drove at PaOk’s defence after a cute through-ball by Jorginho and noticed Willian to his left. the Brazilian struck a low shot and scored under goalkeeper alexandros Paschalakis. Moments later, it should have been 2-0, as Morata showed why sarri prefers Olivier Giroud in the Premier League. Pedro crossed and Morata sent a free header wide.
Missing the target became a theme for the spain striker. He did everything right, except find a finish.
there were unfortunate scenes at the death when Pedro collided with Paschalakis. He left the field with a painful shoulder. that looked like the one downside to Chelsea’s first europa League clash since winning the competition in 2013. the upside is they escaped salonika with a deserved win.