Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BATSHUAYI I LIKE IT
Chelsea show why they’re calling the tune under Lampard with their best win since he took over
FRANK LAMPARD insisted Chelsea have a long way to go before they can even start to be compared with Ajax.
But this result shows just how far they have come in such a short space of time under his managerial reign after arguably the best, and certainly most eye-catching, win since he took charge in the summer.
Two inspired changes by the manager reaped rich rewards as Michy Batshuayi scored the 86th-minute winner from fellow substitute Christian Pulisic’s cross.
Lampard soaked up the adulation at the final whistle, high-fiving his players on the touchline while others hugged each other before they all trotted over to the jubilant away end. This victory in the toughest fixture in Group H means Chelsea have taken a huge step towards the knock-out stages.
Ajax went all the way to the semi-final last season – losing in hearbreaking fashion to
Tottenham – as they re-established themselves as a major European force. They are famed for producing young players, just as Chelsea have done over the last year.
Chelsea had to ride their luck as the width of a post and the tightest of VAR calls stopped them going behind, but they have an admirable never-say-die spirit about them.
That has been instilled by a manager with great experience of big European nights like this. Kurt Zouma marshalled the defence brilliantly, winning every interception, while Cesar Azpilicueta (below) even punched the air in celebration after making a last-ditch tackle. Yet this was a night when the Chelsea youngsters came of age. It was a breakneck first half with neither side stopping for breath.
Chelsea – whose coach Jody Morris, Lampard’s No.2, was shown a yellow card as he clearly said something to the officials – were grateful for VAR technology in the 35th minute.
Hakim Ziyech’s cross was deflected off Fikayo Tomori to Quincy Promes and the Ajax forward put the ball in the net, only for video technology to show that his big toe was offside. It just about summed up how little there was between the two teams.
But Ajax slowly began to turn the screw in the second half.
Promes’s corner found Edson Alvarez and the midfielder’s glancing header hit the far post
with Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga well beaten.
Then Lampard turned the tide with his substitutions late on as Pulisic and Batshuayi gave them more impetus going forward. That was the cue for Chelsea to really put the home side under pressure and push for an unlikely winner.
Pulisic, a summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund, sent one shot whistling just wide from the edge of the box and Batshuayi was grateful for an offside flag that spared his blushes after blazing over from a great position. The breakthrough finally came when Pulisic broke down the left and pulled back a low cross for Batshuayi to stab home from close range.
There was still time for Ajax to hit back but Chelsea stood firm – no wonder they celebrated at the final whistle.
Nights like this give players belief and confidence and can really be a platform for the Lampard