Mauricio Pochettino guided Chelsea to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Newcastle United in a penalty shootout, after Mykhailo Mudryk’s dramatic equalizer in the 92nd minute secured a spot in the League Cup semi-finals.
Chelsea had been through a difficult period, losing three of their last five games, including a 4-1 setback to Newcastle. However, their 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge demonstrated their renewed tenacity and grit, indicating a much-needed turnaround.
Chelsea advances
In an exciting turn of events, the Magpies appeared to be winning 1-0 until replacement Kieran Trippier failed to intercept a crucial cross, which allowed Mudryk—also a substitute—to tie the score. Fans were on the edge of their seats as the game went into a thrilling penalty shootout as a result of this stunning change of events.
Pochettino; “We are so happy. The fans and the club deserve this sort of feeling. It’s a big motivation,” and further added “Sometimes in football you need some luck and it came. But credit to the players because they were fantastic.” an article from straitstime.com mentioned.
England defender Trippier’s misery escalated on a tense evening when he mishandled Newcastle’s second penalty kick. Matt Ritchie’s effort was skillfully stopped by Chelsea’s Djordje Petrovic, only the second goalkeeper to start for the Blues, which only made the loss worse.
Chelsea took a big step towards the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday with a 2-0 win at AC Milan which took them top of Group E and left the Italians wondering what might have been.
Graham Potter’s side took control at a packed San Siro against a Milan team who had to play most of the match with 10 men after Fikayo Tomori was controversially handed an early straight red card.
The decision to send off Blues man Tomori for fouling Mason Mount in the area in the 18th minute turned the match on its head as Milan had matched Chelsea in the opening stages.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli kept a calm demeanour after a painful defeat but later told reporters: “I definitely don’t think the referee has had one of his better evenings.”
Italy midfielder Jorginho slotted home the resulting penalty, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s cool finish 11 minutes before the break ended Milan’s resistance and put Chelsea one point ahead of Salzburg at the head of the group.
“It changes the game in terms of what Milan want to do, but for us we still needed to make that count. It’s never straight-forward to play against 10-men, especially here,” Potter said.
“It was a big moment, we still felt that we could do enough with 11 v 11 but the referee made a decision and we have to get on with it.”
It’s been a quick turnaround for Chelsea, who were bottom of the group going into the first match with Milan at Stamford Bridge last week and now lead the way after their fourth win on the bounce in all competitions.
Two straight defeats to Chelsea leave Milan third but they still have a fighting chance of making the knockout stages for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Pioli’s side are ony two points away from the qualification places and a trip to Dinamo Zagreb and the visit of Salzburg will decide their fate in the competition.
“I don’t think there’s any question that I will need to motivate my players,” said Pioli afterwards.
“We’ll have to prepare as best as possible for the match in Zagreb and I’ll do my best to do that.”
– Tomori fury –
An already scrappy, bad-tempered affair exploded when referee Daniel Siebert dismissed Tomori and gave a penalty to Chelsea after the England defender pulled back Mount who had been brilliantly put through by Reece James.
Tomori could barely believe his eyes when he was sent off and both Mount and Olivier Giroud were booked in the shoving that followed amid deafening jeers from the home supporters.
With an angry cacophony vibrating around the San Siro Jorginho opened the scoring three minutes later, further irritating Italy fans after his spot-kick misses cost their national team qualification for the upcoming World Cup.
Giroud nearly levelled against his old club with a header that whistled just past the post in the 27th minute, but Aubameyang soon made sure Chelsea had an iron grip on the match.
Mount was again involved as he played through both Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling, but it was the Gabon striker who got there first and calmly finished at Ciprian Tatarusanu’s near post.
The Blues’ second, Aubameyang’s third in as many matches, completely took the wind out of Milan’s sails but to their credit they did try to force the issue in the second half, pushed on by their magnificent home support.
Sergino Dest could have pulled one back for the hosts on the hour mark but he slashed an awful effort into the stands when Rafael Leao shot down the left flank and sent over an inviting cross with which the American should have done better.
From there Chelsea were content to keep the ball and take the sting out of a match which had long since been decided.
Read more about Chelsea in the Champions League here.
Chelsea and Liverpool draw 1-1 in high-stakes Premier League opener as Pochettino makes his debut
In a thrilling Premier League opener, Chelsea rallied to tie Liverpool 1-1, displaying their improvement under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Luis Diaz’s quick counterattack goal gave Liverpool the lead in the marquee contest in the 18th minute. Chelsea’s rookie defender Axel Disasi tied the score in the 37th minute with a goal from close range.
Pochettino, making his managerial comeback a year after being dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain, was very happy. “It was difficult from the beginning but how we grew in the game and how we found the way to play and how we started to dominate and push Liverpool deeper and deeper! I am very pleased about everything,” he said, according to an article from latestly.com.
Both teams had goals disallowed by VAR during the tense first half.
Interestingly, both Chelsea and Liverpool wanted to recruit Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, a defensive midfielder worth £110 million.
The fact that Caicedo preferred Chelsea to Liverpool could have effects beyond the draw.
Both teams need a ball-winning midfielder like the Ecuadorian Caicedo.
Chelsea showed an energy that had never been seen at Stamford Bridge, thanks to Pochettino. Nicolas Jackson, a young striker, was unable to make an impact despite controlling possession and putting pressure on Liverpool. His best chance came in the 71st minute when he sprinted towards the goal, but Alisson Becker made a heroic stop that perfectly captured the tension of the game.
Chelsea under Pochettino displayed a renewed vigour, outplaying Liverpool with a newfound ferocity. Although Nicolas Jackson’s attempts were unsuccessful, Chelsea controlled the action. The struggles of Liverpool’s reorganised midfield, which featured Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, highlighted the absence of Fabinho and Henderson. Klopp didn’t lose faith in his rookies.
Paul Merson’s predictions for the Premier League’s GW15 fixtures, including Manchester United vs. Chelsea
As the holiday fixtures draw near, conversations about the Premier League were sparked by an exciting weekend. Arsenal is at the top of the table and ready to maintain their lead after their outstanding performance. Liverpool is preparing an exciting title fight with their next fixtures. Prepare yourself for an exciting week in the Premier League, where every game matters because of the important games that lie ahead.
Merson on the EPL
This season, Manchester City will confront a formidable obstacle in their quest to close the gap at the top. Chasing one top team necessitates a different approach than pursuing two, which puts City in a precarious situation where it must hope that both opponents falter. As all is going on, the struggle for survival in the Premier League between Sheffield United and Burnley is getting more intense in the relegation zone. Here are my predictions for the next round of Premier League matches in this exciting scenario.
Brentley vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves showed resiliency in the face of Arsenal’s difficult start, demonstrating their capacity to maintain composure in the face of a powerful opponent’s early dominance. As with Brentford’s ascent and Brighton’s, beating them is a noteworthy accomplishment.
Burnley’s convincing victory over Sheffield United has surely given them more self-assurance. Given their potential, the Wolves should be ranked higher in the league standings. They should win this next game, and I think they’ll play a standout game.
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanders: 2
Arsenal vs. Luton Town
This matchup is a quintessential David and Goliath tale, akin to an FA Cup third-round matchup but extremely uncommon in the Premier League’s competitive environment. The distance between these teams is comparable to one of the biggest gaps in the top division of English football.
Liverpool made the costly error of playing against Luton unprepared and believing they would win. Arsenal’s concentration and professionalism will be crucial as they prepare for the match on Wednesday. If they have the proper attitude going into the game and remain focused, they should have no trouble winning.
Prediction: Arsenal: 3
Liverpool vs Sheffield United
The recent managerial change at Sheffield spurred debate following their lackluster display against Burnley. The two pivotal losses to Burnley and Bournemouth severely damaged their reputation. Consistency is required for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League season. Despite having a formidable squad, their most recent triumph appeared more like a blunder than a sure step. Their miscalculation against Luton highlights how urgently they must improve their away performance in order to remain competitive.
Graham Potter now faces new issues following Chelsea’s contentious acquisition of Mykhaylo Mudryk. The team’s dazzling new player, who cost them £87 million, is now proving whether or not he was worth the investment. He still needs some time to get used to Chelsea’s style of play, which could take some time.
Chelsea secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but the highlight of the match was the impressive performance of their newest signing. The 22-year-old player, who joined the team during the winter transfer window, came on as a second-half substitute and immediately made an impact.
A top highlight of the game was his skillful move inside the Liverpool box, which showcased his offensive capabilities. Despite not having played in a competitive match since November, the player quickly made an impact and silenced any doubts about his defensive abilities.
Image of Jorginho, from Wikipedia.
However, the match was not without incident as Jorginho, Chelsea’s midfield maestro, was seen shouting at the new player and demanding that he pick up a loose ball. Despite the tension, the new player remained composed and helped Chelsea secure a crucial point.
An Arsenal fan recently shared a match video, claiming that Trossard, a Belgian player on the Arsenal team, is superior to Mudryk, a new player at Chelsea. This assertion, however, has been met with criticism from other football fans, as Arsenal is currently leading the Premier League and the supporter is criticising a player who has recently joined Chelsea.
Image of Mudryk from his personal Instagram page.
On the other hand, Chelsea fans remain confident in Mudryk’s abilities and predict that he will soon score a hat-trick against Arsenal. Additionally, the supporter’s comment on Trossard’s skills, specifically his backward dribble, has sparked debate. While some argue that it should not be highly praised, it is still considered a challenging manoeuvre to master.
The tweets show that Chelsea supporters are wholeheartedly backing Mudryk, recognizing his potential as a player and feeling proud to have him on their team. Additionally, it is a common view that some Arsenal fans may be excessively fixated on Mudryk, which has led to criticism from Chelsea supporters.
Potter’s Upcoming Challenge
Potter faces a crucial period in terms of managing the squad. He must carefully monitor the contracts of key players such as N’Golo Kante and Jorginho, as well as consider how their situations may impact the rest of the team.
Maintaining a cohesive team dynamic is essential for success in future matches, and avoiding conflicts like Jorginho’s outburst towards Mudryk is crucial. Another significant decision that Potter must make is what to do with Mason Mount. With only 18 months remaining on the midfielder’s contract, if an agreement cannot be reached, Liverpool is likely to pursue him.
Additionally, Declan Rice, who is also in the final 18 months of his contract, is predicted to leave in the summer to generate revenue for West Ham. Chelsea would ideally like to retain both Rice and Mount, but it is becoming increasingly unlikely.
While it is unlikely, it is not impossible for Chelsea to secure Premier League victories this season. Currently, they stand at tenth place on the league table with 29 points, significantly behind Arsenal’s lead of 50 points. However, as the saying goes, in football, anything can happen.
This famous song “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” became something of an anthem when it was performed by Madonna in the 1996 musical film Evita.
Now 26 years later, it sounds so shockingly appropriate.
Whatever adjectives you use, you’d be absolutely lost for screaming words as underdogs Saudi Arabia scored one of the biggest World Cup upsets ever by beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1.
Poor Messi. His quest to win the one major title to elude him got off to a shocking start and brought back memories of Cameroon’s 1-0 win over an Argentina team, led by Diego Maradona, in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup.
BIG-HEARTED SAUDIS
When Argentina scored with a 10th-minute Messi penalty, it simply looked a foregone conclusion…a possible rout in store, like Iran getting shell-shocked 6-2 by England.
But the big-hearted Saudis fought back and goals by Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari in a five-minute span in the second half gave this unimaginable win.
Believe me, this Argentina loss rivals other World Cup upsets like Senegal’s 1-0 win over titleholder France in the 2002 tournament opener and the United States beating England by the same score in 1950.
It’s hard to ever think that Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run ended at the Lusail Stadium in Messi’s fifth — and likely last— World Cup.
SPORTING MESSI
But Messi, the Paris Saint-Germain star striker, was sporting at the final whistle. Heshook hands with a Saudi coaching staff member and stood with his hands on his hips near the centre circle, an all-too-familiar scene for one of the best players ever, who is yet to win the biggest prize in soccer.
For the record, Argentina‘s results at the FIFA World Cup ranks as one of the most successful national football teams in the world, having won two World Cups in 1978 and 1986. Argentina has been runners up three times: in 1930, 1990 and 2014. In 19 World Cup tournaments, Argentina had 47 victories in 82 matches. The team was present in all but four of the World Cups, being behind only Brazil and Germany in number of appearances (with the 2022 edition included, to be played).
Now sorry tears may well in your eyes for Messi and Argentina. You ask: How will they now pull back and make it out of this group?
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor
