Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MENDY AN ND MAKE DO
Keeper Edouard adds much-needed stabilty at
FRANK LAMPARD is in esteemed company even though Chelsea endured a night of frustration at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard (right) became only the second English manager after dear old Sir Bobby Robson to take charge of two Champions League campaigns.
Under him Chelsea reached the knock-out stages in his first year despite losing to Valencia in their opening group match at Stamford Bridge.
Last night they avoided doing the same, again against Spanish opposition . And , thanks to keeper Edouard Mendy, they managed to keep a clean sheet.
That at least shows progress, especially against seasoned European campaigners li ke Sevilla, who won the Europa League (yet again) in August after beating Wolves and Manchester United along the way.
Chelsea had to weather some heavy pressure at times but they also had dangerous moments of their own against what will surely be their toughest opponents in Group E.
The result leaves them in fairly healthy shape with group ties against Krasnodar and Rennes to come. Lampard will be expecting triumphs against both.
And the fact that those two teams could only draw aw their clash last night is hardly rdly a headache for the he
Chelsea boss.
It was not the greatest advert for the Champions
League amid all the e outcry for a European an
Premier League but still till a fast, slick and entertaining contest lacking only in goals.
Maybe Chelsea will take pride in that. After all , they had conceded three goals against mediocre opposition on two occasions this season already. Full-back Ben Chilwell said: “Defensively we were very solid tonight against a top-class side side. We’ll take the draw an and the clean sheet b because few would have thought we’d get one after conceding three goals at the weekend.”
But the Blues still look a work in progress under Lampard and, when Hakim Ziyech replaced Mason Mount in the second half, it was the first time they have had all six new summer signings on the
pitch at the same time. Timo Werner looked dangerous and keeper Mendy made some good saves but Kai Havertz is still finding his feet and struggled for rhythm.
The Blues lived dangerously early on when Jorginho got booked for a foul on Lucas Ocampos after 15 minutes and then, just three minutes later, scythed down Ivan Rakitic. Ref Davide Massa let him off big time. Maybe that summed up Chelsea’s frustration as Sevilla were bossing the game.
S e v i l l a mi d f i e l d e r S u s o floated in the resulting free-kick and, when Sergi Gomez rose at the back post, his header was well saved by Mendy.
Chelsea do now have a topclass striker in Werner and, even when under pressure, the German gives them an outlet.
Ocampos tested Mendy again and the Chelsea keeper made a decent save. Things have got so bad with Chelsea keepers they put the retired Petr Cech into their Premier League squad as emergency cover. But, in fairness, Mendy looks as if he has the makings of a top keeper.
Chelsea were better after the restart. Whatever Lampard said at half-time worked as they were more assertive, pushed the visitors back and began to look ook dangerous,
Chilwell’s corner presented ed Kurt Zouma with Chelsea’s ’s best chance but his 48th- minute header.
Sevilla forward Joan Jordan went closest in the closing stages as his dipping shot skimmed off the top of Chelsea’s net. At the other end, Werner forced Bono o into another decent stop with h a shot from 20 yards.
But, ultimately, it was a point int well earned for Lampard in his f ledgling managerial career eer against some top class Eurouropean opponents.