PERFECT EXECUTION
Clinical Chelsea put Fulham to the sword ahead of their Real deal
IT WAS, said Thomas Tuchel, the ‘perfect match’ and it was hard to disagree. A vital game for a topfour finish but against relegation fodder sandwiched in between two of the biggest games in Chelsea’s history taking on Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final, it was an accident waiting to happen.
Not though it seems when you have Kai Havertz, finally finding his stride and bringing a joie de vivre to his game that has been missing for much of the season.
And not when you have Mason Mount, bamboozling experienced pros with the sheer audacity of his touch. From teacher’s pet to playerof- the- year contender, it’s been quite a season for the 22-year-old.
Chelsea strode on, despite the fact Fulham were spirited and game throughout, simply because they were brutal in the timing of their goals. Both were scored at the start of each half and they crushed all the naive belief that Fulham could muster. They did it whilst taking calculated risks. There were rests for more mature players such as captain Cesar Azpilicueta, given the amount of running he will be expected to do tracking back and forth in that semi-final, and Jorginho, given the evening off so as to patrol the midfield with more energy on Wednesday.
N’Golo Kante came on to add a touch of stability for the final third of the game. Billy Gilmour, 19, was asked to hold midfield alone despite not having started a Premier League game since January.
And Fulham started superbly. They had tested Edouard Mendy more than once, the Chelsea goalkeeper’s one- handed save from Antonee Robinson’s blistering shot the highlight of an extraordinary opening by the struggler which saw them force a series of corners.
Yet having seized the initiative in the game, they conceded it at the first sign of attack. Thiago Silva sent a simple long ball into the opposition half. Yes, Fulham couldn’t necessarily have legislated for the brilliance of Mount. In one exquisite moment, he killed that hopeful ball from the Brazilian dead. In doing so, he bewildered Joachim Andersen and Ola Aina, who were suddenly too deep and allowing Mount too much space, having assumed he couldn’ t possibly execute such a touch so quickly. Mount then simply fed Havertz, who took a touch and put Chelsea in the lead on 10 minutes.
These two stood out here and Tuchel lavished them with praise, Mount especially. ‘He has the full package, mentally, talent wise, physically and most importantly character,’ he said. ‘He comes to Cobham every day and wants to learn. It’s a pleasure to have him and be at his side and guide him. It’s impressive as no matter all the praise or criticism, he’s not effected. He seems to be a guy who feels he has an obligation to make the most out of the sport.’
There was a brief scare when he landed on his back in the second half and was taken off a few minutes later but Tuchel was sure he would fit for Wednesday.
As for Havertz, this is the player Roman Abramovich thought he had signed from Bayer Leverkusen, darting around, linking with Timo Werner and clinical in execution. Playing like this, he may even start against Real Madrid.
‘He had his chance and he showed up,’ said Tuchel. ‘You need guys like this. If you have five minutes or 15 to show that you are ready and give the manager a headache for the next game, this is what he did.’ For Fulham, this is what a relegation season looks like for an idealistic young team; lots of vigour and youthful expression punished at the first opportunity.
One- nil down, they persisted. Ademola Lookman executed a quick and superb strike across goal, which Mendy had to tip wide. And then as half-time beckoned, Aina lined up a shot outside the box. It deflected off Reece James and Mendy was called on again, demonstrating admirable agility by changing his stance and pushing away.
But hope is fragile. All the exuberance of what was doubtless an inspirational half-time team talk from Scott Parker was extinguished within three minutes of t he restart.
Ben Chilwell played the sweeping cross- field ball to Havertz, who touched it inside to Werner. Then came the moment of sheer class: Werner’s neat touch to play the ball into the box and Havertz’s delightfully-timed run to beat the offside trap. He touched the ball in for his second of the evening.
It wasn’t that Fulham gave up. They harried and endeavoured. It’s just that hope slowly drained away, as is their Premier League status.
Parker gave a passionate rebuttal of despair, a reminder of the time he rallied West Ham as a player, rousing team-mates trailing 3-0 at West Brom to a 3-3 draw in 2011.
‘ We have to win four games,’ implored Parker and you almost believed they could. ‘We’ve seen it before, haven’t we? People will be laughing at me thinking it could happen. But until that curtain comes down let’s wait and see.’ But Fulham have never won four successive games in the Premier League. And that inspirational team talk back in 2011? West Ham drew the game but would go down anyway.
CHELSEA (3-5-2): Mendy 8; Christensen 7, Thiago Silva 7.5, Zouma 7; James 6.5, Ziyech 6 (Kante 66min, 7) Gilmour 6, Mount 9 (Abraham 76, 6), Chilwell 8 (Alonso 83); Havertz 8.5, Werner 6.5. Booked: Zouma. Subs (not used): Kepa, Jorginho, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Anjorin. FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Areola 7; Aina 6, Andersen 5, Adarabioyo 7, Robinson 5; Anguissa 6, Lemina 6 (Carvalho 78); Cavaleiro 6 (Onomah 78), Reid 6, Lookman 7; Maja 5.5 (Mitrovic 81). Booked: Aina. Subs (not used): Roak, Tete, Hector, Odoi, Ream, Bryan. Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire) 7.