Here are my three thoughts on Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, our Game of the Mid-Week:
• USMNT players were everywhere in Champions League today. Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’s Weston McKennie both started in a big UCL game today, part of a group that also included Tim Weah (Lille) vs. Brenden Aaronson (Salzburg), Jordan Pefok (who scored for Young Boys vs. Atalanta) and John Brooks (Wolfsburg). Pulisic was less a false 9 for Chelsea in this game than a true 9. And while that makes sense given Romelu Lukaku not being back at 100%—Pulisic has a knack for anticipation in the box—it still doesn’t seem like Pulisic’s best position. On a day when other Chelsea players scored, it’s a bit unfortunate that Pulisic wasn’t one of them, though he did do a lot of things that were helpful for his team and got a rousing ovation from the Stamford Bridge faithful when he came off. McKennie, for his part, had some good moments at the start but wasn’t able to sustain them in a one-sided game for Chelsea. It’s not like anyone else from Juventus could say any better for themselves.
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• I loved Chelsea’s three-man back line. What more could you ask for? Trevoh Chalobah showed he deserved the faith shown in him by Thomas Tuchel and scored the opener in an emphatic way. Antonio Rüdiger was his usual self, which is to say, that truly annoying pest whom you always want on your team. And Thiago Silva? He deserves a bit more description here. I’ll put up my hand and say that I wasn’t all-in on Chelsea signing Thiago Silva on a free transfer last season. But I was wrong. Anyone who’s watched the game knows he was one of the truly great center backs of the past 20 years when he was at Milan, and to an extent PSG. But at 36 last year, and 37 now, he was a question mark on whether he could continue to be what he was. Those questions have been answered. Thiago Silva knows exactly where he needs to be on the field to have an impact, and I almost feel like he has been better for Chelsea than he was for PSG. Bottom line: He’s an important player for the reigning European champions, who appear to be even better this season than they were last season.
• Chelsea's chances of winning a Premier League-Champions League double are better than most people think. I realize that the Premier League is heading for a three-team race (Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool) and that anything can happen in the Champions League. But Chelsea’s defensive record is absolutely impeccable— 4 goals against in 12 league games, 1 goal against in Champions League, No. 1 in both competitions—and that has a huge impact on who wins these titles. Tuchel’s ability to find that defensive solidity while not taking away from Chelsea’s attacking danger remains his biggest accomplishment since taking over at Stamford Bridge. I remain dumbfounded that Tuchel wasn’t wanted at PSG or at Dortmund before that. But Chelsea found the right coach, and now it’s potentially on its way to a defining stretch in club history.
What are your thoughts on the game? You can share them in the comments below.
Grant, Pulisic looked like a middle school kid playing against men today. He’s most effective making runs, and especially on the wing, where he has space to take guys on and run *into* the middle. And you’re right: he has terrific anticipation. But he got lost among the trees as a #9. He did do some good things, but is *clearly* more effective elsewhere on the field.
I thought McKennie was one of Juve’s best players today. His mis-hit gaff gave Chelsea a goal, but since when is he the right back? Where was the D? He broke up several Chelsea attacks, and was usually in the middle of Juve’s.
You’re right - Chelsea are better than last year. More consistent. I thought at the time that signing Thiago Silva was a brilliant move. They had a pretty inexperienced coach (Lampard), Kepa in goal, and were “playing the babies”. Having a very experienced head in the center of the D was just what they needed. Playing him in the center of a 3-back increases his effectiveness at his age. His goal line clearance today changed the game.