Ziyech strike can’t hide Blues failings
HAKIM ZIYECH’S late winner sparked a rousing rendition of Chelsea’s new ‘champions of the world’ song from the away end. But many will have acknowledged their side’s performance was not worthy of their recently acquired status of Clubworld Cup winners.
This was a display so far removed from those Chelsea produced early in the season that it completely vindicated boss Thomas Tuchel’s claims that there is much more to do if they want to win the Premier League title again.
Romelu Lukaku’s performance, in particular, was dreadful. He touched the ball only seven times, and one of those was from a kick-off, a record low for 90-plus minutes.
But he wasn’t alone in lacking anything like the intensity required.
Tuchel said: “If you have a late win you have the chance to move on, forget it and take the positive energy out of it, take it into the next game. In the moment, it is very important to install a little more fluidity in our game.we looked a little drained, exhausted but we tried hard.
“I have to stay calm now because obviously you have no idea how a week like this works – we have six players with a cold from the air conditioning on the plane, we have jet lag from Abu Dhabi, we have almost no player that slept well because of the time difference.”
Chances in the first half were few and far between.
The first fell to N’golo Kante, who was found superbly when Malang Sarr threaded through an incisive pass, but his shot was always too close tovicente Guaita in the
Palace goal and the Spaniard, replaced by Jack Butland at half-time with a knee problem, saved.then Michael Olise set up Wilfried Zaha but the Palace man fired wide.
Thankfully, the second half was better, but only just.
Ziyech thought he had given the visitors the lead when he fired home the loose ball after Butland had saved from Lukaku – but it was ruled out because Lukaku had strayed offside.
But Ziyech was happier late on, when he tucked home a fine goal on the volley from Marcos Alonso’s deep cross.
Ziyech said: “It was a difficult game with only a small number of chances, then the best feeling to score in the last minute.”
Palace boss Patrick Vieira said: “It is frustrating to concede a goal like that at the end because we defended well. We deserved a draw.”