VINTAGE CHELSEA
Blues old guard show their value
IN THE last week some of Chelsea’s established stars have provided a reminder of their enduring value.
It has been easy to get swept up in the feelgood story of the emergence of Chelsea’s academy prospects.
What an impact the youngsters who have been made in Chelsea have had. What bright presents, never mind futures, they all have.
But head coach Frank Lampard knows as well as anyone the worth of stars who have been there and done it, and he has made that very point.
He knows it from first- hand experience too. Some of the most successful Chelsea sides he played in were held together by players just like that.
Since Mason Mount, at Wolves a fortnight ago, fired home the 10th consecutive league goal scored by one of Chelsea’s academy graduates, the more seasoned campaigners have taken centre stage.
When they lost against Liverpool, it was World Cupwinner N’Golo Kante who scored their consolation goal.
Although there were 10 former academy players involved in last week’s Carabao Cup tie against Grimsby, five of Chelsea’s seven goals in that match were scored by more senior figures.
The win against Brighton on Saturday required patience before it was secured, and the two decisive moments in the game came via Jorginho’s deadlock-breaking penalty and Willian’s late nerve-settler.
Another occasion awaits this Wednesday, when Chelsea travel to Lille for their second Champions League game. Lampard expects his old guard again to have a vital role to play.
‘Anywhere away in Europe in the Champions League is tough,’ Lampard said. ‘There’s a mindset to it, an approach to it. For some, it will be their first taste of that stuff, and they need to learn very quickly.
‘Concentration levels have to be at maximum. It showed against Valencia here, when we were the better team but switched off for a second and lost the game 1-0.
‘We need to learn those lessons fast. We have experienced players in the team and they need to help the young players.’
Chelsea head to France having taken an important step forward in their development, producing their first complete 90-minute performance of the season, which secured a first clean sheet and a first league win at Stamford Bridge for Lampard as manager.
‘ It was a nice step forward,’ Lampard said. ‘With some of the football we want to play, moving the ball quicker for most of the game.
‘We are working a lot on switching the play, moving it quickly from side to side. Sometimes, when we forget that and forget ourselves, we slow it down too much. It’s something I don’t like to see. It doesn’t help the crowd, doesn’t help the atmosphere.’ Things will step up a notch in Europe and Lampard insists the same approach can work. ‘Every game is different and you have to consider that, but at our best I want us to have the feeling that we are a team that is sharp, can move it quickly, is physical and have energy. It’s trying to put all that together.’ Brighton managed to set an unwanted record by having lost all nine of their league matches with Chelsea. It looks like they have a long season ahead, with issues at both ends of the pitch. They were their own worst enemies with their insistence on taking risks with possession at the back. It was no surprise when it cost them, though unfortunate that it was Adam Webster’s mistake that led to Jorginho’s penalty, as he was Brighton’s best player. Up front they created so little that their fans sarcastically celebrated having a shot late in the game. No wonder they are the second lowest scorers in the league, with five goals, having failed to score in four of their last six games. They haven’t won since the opening day of the season when they thumped Watford 3-0. Their manager, Graham Potter, said: ‘Maybe we could have been brave but when I watch the game the level of Chelsea’s performance was good. ‘It is all very well saying my team were this or that, but ultimately it was about two teams on the pitch and you have to credit the team. I am sure Frank will have been happy with his team and I don’t want to accept defeat but I must also be honest.’ CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Kepa 6; Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 6.5, Tomori 7.5, Alonso 6; Barkley 6 (Kovacic 68min, 6), JORGINHO 8; Willian 6, Mount 7.5, Pedro 6 (Hudson-Odoi 63, 6); Abraham 7 (Batshuayi 84). Subs not used: Caballero, Pulisic, James, Guehi. Scorers: Jorginho 50, Willian 76. Booked: Christensen, Alonso. Manager: Frank Lampard 8. BRIGHTON (4-5-1): Ryan 7; Montoya 6, Webster 7.5, Dunk 7, Burn 6.5; Gross 5, Bissouma 5 (Bong 46, 6), Stephens 5.5, Mooy 6 (Connolly 65, 6), Alzate 5; Maupay 5 (Murray 79). Sub not used: Button, Jahanbakhsh, Schelotto, Baluta. Booked: Maupay, Alzate, Webster. Manager: Graham Potter 4. Referee: Chris Kavanagh 8. Attendance: 40,683.