Match Review - CWC Semi-final

Another final inbound

Good Morning All,

We are in yet another final!

What a performance our team produced last night, I thought we were brilliant from start to finish and the confidence is really flowing through the group at this point.

I have to give some flowers to Enzo Maresca, since the Flamengo game he has changed his tactics, adapted the formation to suit our squad better and continued to keep us solid defensively. Most importantly, we have stopped inverting the full backs, and that is making us look so much better in attack and defence, we are being caught out in transition less and we are attacking with more fluidity.

Everybody knows my thoughts on Maresca and that I’m not convinced he is the man to take us back to consistently challenging for trophies. BUT, he is starting to slowly show me that he is adaptable and that he can be flexible which is a step in the right direction, lets see if he keeps to it and we can keep improving and using this new system.

Anyway, I went on a tangent there, I am so pleased to see us playing this way and getting the best out of the squad. It is a VERY small sample size so I won’t get carried away, but the signs are positive.

I thought we were absolutely superb last night, every player (outfield) to a man were on the ball, energetic and up for it. It was there for all to see.

You all voted on the out come of the game last night and this is what our community decided was the most likely outcome pre-game.

Narrow Chelsea Win in 90 - 54%

Comfortable Chelsea Win in 90 - 29%

Draw/ET - 13%

Penalties - 2%

Lose in 90 - 2%

The 29% were the winners in this instance! After predicting the Palmeiras game exactly correct (2-1 win, Estevao to score) on last weeks pod, I then predicted a 1-0 win with Joao Pedro to score for last night, and I was close but Joao Pedro’s STUNNING goals made me happy to be wrong!!

Player Ratings;

Robert Sanchez - 6

Average as usual, didn’t have too much to do, one moment where he was incredibly slow off his line and he was saved by Marc Cucurella’s intuition and goal line clearance.

Malo Gusto - 7

Looks so much more comfortable and is a lot more effective when not inverting. He also didn’t get caught out defensively as he was able to position himself better and support in both attack and defence. Nothing spectacular but also no errors of note.

Trevoh Chalobah - 8

Super solid, brilliant in the air and his passing was excellent. Whichever one of the 3 centre backs that okay all seem to have good relationships with one another, are confident on the ball and are showing great leadership skills.

Tosin Adarabioyo - 8

Again, a super solid performance, so so dominant in the aire and on the ground, didn’t give the opposition attackers a sniff. His leadership skills are more prevalent by the week and the impact he has on his teammates is there to see

Marc Cucurella - 8

So so so aggressive with his defending, incredibly tenacious when pressing and super progressive on the ball, it was good to see him wider and not inverting in any way. He was unlucky with a long range effort that whistled past the post.

Moises Caicedo - 8.5

I am genuinely running out of superlatives to describe Moises Caicedo and his performances. He was his usual energetic, front footed self. Made some superb interceptions, broke up a couple of counter attacks really early and his passing was great.

Enzo Fernandez - 8.5

He is genuinely becoming one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world, he is so so well rounded. His passing was excellent, his energy and pressing were great. He was so progressive and was involved in everything.

Pedro Neto - 7.5

Less involved than other games in the CWC, but when he was involved he was direct and positive on the ball and he moved the ball quickly when passing, something I usually critique him for.

Cole Palmer - 7.5

Has benefited massively from the tactical and system shift, he is involved more, has more freedom and is looking back to his old self. Some of his passing and movement is just elite and his overall performance was really good.

Christopher Nkunku - 7

He was so energetic and looked match fit, something I am not used to seeing from him in a Chelsea shirt. He was actually so unlucky not to score after a great goal line clearance from Thiago Silva.

Joao Pedro - 9.5

WOW…. what a performance, the 2 goals were fantastic. His overall performance was excellent, even to the points of winning headers in his own 6 yard box.

Subs;

Nicolas Jackson - 6

Looked like he couldnt handle the pressure of some actual competition, was erratic on the ball and pressed well. Should have squared to Palmer for an easy tap in.

Noni Madueke - 6

Looked uninterested, didn’t want to battle and was poor on the ball.

Reece James - 6.5

Didn’t have too much to do but he was tidy on the ball and kept us ticking over.

Andrey Santos & KDH - N/A

Didn’t get on the pitch for long enough to comment.

Thanks all for reading

Luke Rushbrook