Unlike Tuchel’s first game, Chelsea started off rather slow here and the speed of play and passing was a bit lacking. And unlike in the first game, Chelsea didn’t have nearly as much control as control either, and Burnley had some strong spells on the ball, even though they generated a total of zero shots.
On the other hand, Chelsea finished the first half with 10 shots, most of which were quite willful or weak, sometimes both, with Werner once also hitting his own standing leg.
After 40 minutes of that kind of bumbling, Captain Azpilicueta took matters into his own hands. Chelsea chopped Burnley open, Alonso and Jorginho converging on the left and finding Mount in the space in the center. He turned superbly, not for the first or last time in the game, playing against dangerman Hudson-Odoi, who cut in and then spread the ball wide to galloping Azpilicueta, who hammered a side shot behind the gigantic goalkeeper.
A rare target; a needed goal.
Tuchel made a half change, hoping to change the game with Pulisic, and Abraham gave way. Chelsea’s attack looked a bit more dynamic after the break, but a second goal remained elusive despite some half (or even better) chances.
Reece James replaced Hudson-Odoi for the last 20 minutes, with most of Chelsea’s attacks gone. That pattern remained. Havertz was also there, but the goal was just not coming.
But then Marcos Alonso did what Marcos Alonso does, scoring a ridiculous goal to secure all three points.
Carefree.
- A change in the back seven of Tuchel’s first game, with Alonso filling in for Chilwell as a fullback. Full rotation in the front three, with Abraham in the center and Werner and Mount in fluid support. 3-4-3, sometimes a 3-4-1-2.
- Pulisic for Abraham with half-shifted Werner more central, with Mount still deeper support
- James for Hudson-Odoi for the last 20 a somewhat defensive change, at least on paper. However, most of Chelsea’s best bouts came down that right flank.
- Havertz for Mount the last change, for the last 10 minutes.
- Burnley had won three in a row in all competitions and back-to-back games in the league against Liverpool and Aston Villa. Not easy, as always.
- Chelsea now unbeaten in 5 of 6, with 4 wins.
- We’re moving into 7th place, level on points with Spurs and Everton, but have played 2 more games than both. Tracks play later today.
- Following: Spurs out on Thursday, followed by Sheffield United on Sunday.
- KTBFFH
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