ERIKSEN DELIVERS ANOTHER MIRACLE
Christian scores as Bees add to Chelsea woes
NESTLING somewhere in the midst of this head-spinning blur of second-half action, and one of the greatest results in Brentford’s recent history, there was the latest episode in Christian Eriksen’s inspirational return.
His first goal for the Bees, clipped smartly over Edouard Mendy as the goalkeeper dived at his feet, completed a swift and clinical counter-attack and put Thomas Frank’s team into the lead in this West London encounter.
This, just 35 days after Eriksen’s reappearance in the Premier League and a week after a goal in Holland as he pulled on a Denmark shirt for the first time since his cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 game against Finland last summer.
‘It’s an ongoing fairytale,’ smiled a delighted Frank. ‘Christian is a top player and brings to the team ability on the ball and calmness.
‘We can always give it to Christian and he will find a solution. Plus, he will always provide goals or assists and gives to the team with his personality and the way he presents himself. I never knew how quickly he would get to this level, but it is impressive and we are pleased.’
Eriksen’s presence appears to be eking more from others because the visitors were fabulous at Stamford Bridge, thoroughly deserving their first win here in more than 83 years, to ease them further clear of the relegation fight.
Once ahead, Brentford stretched away. Vitaly Janelt grabbed his second of the afternoon and sub Yoane Wissa pounced for the fourth in the closing stages when Thiago Silva and Antonio Rudiger confused each other in defence.
For Chelsea, it was a first misstep amid the distractions at the top of the club. Arsenal can now close to within two points of them if they win at Crystal Palace tomorrow.
The timing could not be worse for manager Thomas Tuchel, four days ahead of the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, as clamour continues over the ownership of the club.
There were pre-match protests outside the Bridge from supporters against the takeover bid from the Ricketts Family, while inside the game started in a subdued atmosphere.
Brentford might have taken a grip in the opening 20 minutes when they troubled the hosts and hustled Mendy into a mistake as he tried to pass the ball out.
His error presented Ivan Toney with a glimpse of an open goal, a wonderful chance, albeit from an angle. Toney could not keep it down. His side-footer flew over, but Chelsea were vulnerable and other chances followed.
Toney forced a save from Mendy, low at his near post after a slick move featuring a sweeping pass by Eriksen to release Mads Roerslev, and then headed over at the back post from Rico Henry’s cross.
Eriksen’s quality at set-pieces posed further problems as he whipped one free-kick over and picked out ex-Celtic man Kristoffer Ajer with another. Ajer climbed above Kai Havertz but was unable to convert and Chelsea soon established more control.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount forced routine saves from David Raya, who produced a more eye-catching stop with his fingertips to deny Hakim Ziyech.
Rudiger broke the deadlock with a screamer from 40 yards. The ball flew past Raya’s dive into the net off a post and Rudiger launched an elaborate celebration, sprinting in the arms of Tuchel.
Within two minutes, however, the scores were level. Bryan Mbeumo, outstanding in the second half, set up Janelt to crash an equaliser past Mendy from the edge of the box.
Mbeumo was also central to Eriksen’s goal, four minutes later, and played a part in Janelt’s second, linking up with Toney as Brentford scored their third in an incredible 10-minute spell when Chelsea fell apart. Tuchel’s team responded with Havertz going close three times. First, he saw a goal ruled out for handball, then closed down a clearance by Raya only to see the rebound go wide and then missed by inches when released by Mateo Kovacic.
Brentford resisted admirably, added a fourth and their fans filed out singing about staying up, barely able to believe they had scored four at the home of the European and world champions.
Tuchel, meanwhile, accused his side of lacking ‘maturity’.
‘We lacked maturity in our defending,’ said the Blues boss. ‘We were not aware of the danger in these moments, which is very strange for us. We got punished and that’s also not normal. It’s a summary of strange events.
‘We felt leggy, which is normal after the break. We struggled in the beginning. I felt us more mentally tired, not fresh enough. Also, yesterday, we were wearing gloves and it was snowing during training. Today, it was very, very warm.
‘It’s more difficult for us than for them to play as an underdog and be well prepared for this match.’