On a tumultuous day in southern Wales, Chelsea failed to maintain their 100% record under Antonio Conte as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Swansea City. Diego Costa emphatically put the Blues ahead on 18 minutes, receiving Oscar’s pass on the edge of the 18-yard-box and smashing past the Swans’ ever-present shot-stopper Łukasz Fabiański.
Chelsea completely dominated the rest of the first half—men against boys, attack vs defence. They had so much control in possession (albeit next to no idea how to use it) and when they didn’t have the ball, there was such an urgency to hunt down Swansea players like a pack of wolves in order to win it back, as they looked increasingly dangerous on the break.
Chelsea maintained this authoritative nature throughout the early stages of this surly second half but then they capitulated. Thibaut Courtois was forced to foul Gylfi Sigurðsson inside the penalty box after the Belgian terribly misread the pass which stemmed from a bloody quick Swansea break—I mean, really bloody quick—the Icelandic international converted the penalty but if you thought that was bad, the second goal was utterly horrendous from a Chelsea defensive standpoint. Gary Cahill faffed about and was robbed of the ball by Leroy Fer, who bursted through on goal and slotted under an unfortunate Courtois.
The usual card was subsequently played by Antonio Conte once again in the face of adversity. Cesc Fábregas and Victor Moses replaced the toothless Nemanja Matić and the all pretty but no substance Willian. And once again, the substitutions changed the complexion of the game (especially Fábregas). The Spaniard didn’t get the assist but he had a hand in the Chelsea equaliser, chipping a ball over the top for Oscar to lay down for Branislav Ivanović, whose blocked shot fell to Diego Costa, bagging his second of the game with an excellent overhead kick from six yards out to level.
In the grand scheme of things, this was a disappointing result for Conte’s side, as Chelsea’s next couple of fixtures present much tougher opposition. Here’s three takeaways from the draw…
Conte too reactive and too late with his substitutions
Chelsea fans have used every excuse in the book to explain their first stalemate of this fresh start under new management. Yes, Andre Marriner was bloody atrocious but you cannot just blame the referee. Antonio Conte has been lauded by fans these past couple of weeks like he is Jesus reincarnated, but for once he should be held accountable.
A very perpetual theme of his reign in its early days has been his substitutions turning out to be the telling factor when Chelsea are searching for that all-elusive goal; Michy Batshuayi flicked it on for Costa to score in the first game of the season, a night where Victor Moses also impressed; the Belgian international and Cesc Fábregas both heavily contributed towards the late turnaround at Watford. In southern Wales on Sunday, Fábregas created three chances in his little 15-minute cameo, more than the entire Swansea side combined in the whole 90.
Of course, it looks great when you’re labelled a genius, and all that malarky—but there’s been a constant pattern in those games. He has not been proactive once. West Ham United sat back at Stamford Bridge after the first goal, but the Italian chose not to bring on reinforcements to kill the game off before the inevitable happened (Collins’ goal). Watford scored in the 55th minute at Vicarage Road but the first Chelsea substitution was not made until the 71st.
His reactivity cost us against Swansea. Not only that, but the substitutions were made too late even after the Swans netted their second. Michy Batshuayi has already proved himself to be an integral figure so far this season when Chelsea are chasing a goal, however Conte felt two minutes was enough time for the Belgian marksman to have an impact. Two minutes is not enough time for any player to have an impact. It took 16 minutes for Conte to make the first substitution after Fer’s goal.
Making changes to try and overturn a result is like gambling at a roulette wheel. It can go two ways, either good or bad. It’s certainly been a case of the former in the last couple times you have played, but that wheel was not so generous to Conte and Co. on this occasion.
Cesc Fábregas impresses again, and so did Diego Costa
Speaking of substitutions, one of those was Cesc Fábregas—the Spanish international once again played like a carpenter who created something with few tools in his little 15-minute cameo in Wales.
Fábregas replaced the sluggish Nemanja Matić and the difference was immediately visible. Whereas Matić would repeatedly opt for the safe option of just passing it backwards or playing these short, little five-yard sideway passes, and constantly dawdle in possession in the process, our 29-year-old midfield maestro looked to get the ball quickly forward on every occasion. It was refreshing too see after 75 minutes of being forced to endure two of our most advanced central midfielders constantly choosing to play it risk-free.
His desire to always try and go down a more direct route and get the ball moving quicker translated into three chances being created by Fábregas. In 60 less minutes, that’s more than Matić, and in 75 less minutes, that’s more than Diego Costa, both Chelsea full-backs, N’Golo Kanté and the entire Swansea side combined (our centre-backs obviously do not count).
Cesc wasn’t the only impressive Chelsea Spaniard on the day. Diego Costa has been discriminated by the media in recent weeks for his temperament, but he let his football do the talking, bagging a brace against the Swans. The service to Costa was a slight improvement on recent fixtures—he received 42 passes, the second most of his four Premier League games so far this season.
The sitter he missed from two yards out could be considered as unacceptable, especially as it would have killed the game off because there was no way Swansea were recovering from two goals adrift with the level of confidence they were playing at. His first goal was a very tidy finish indeed, and his second was one of the highest quality. To be honest, there’s not much you can fault about his display—apart from a couple bits and bobs.
Marcos Alonso and David Luiz cannot fail to deliver
If you needed any reassurance that Marcos Alonso and David Luiz were necessary additions for Chelsea on Deadline Day, then this game provided it. First of all, the need for a ball-playing centre-back was oh-so apparent on Sunday. Leroy Fer certainly fouled Cahill just before Swansea’s second, but he shouldn’t be on the ball for that long in the first place. On too many occasions, the two central defenders were hesitant to play the ball forward and just like all three central midfielders, opted for the straightforward, uncomplicated pass. Luiz is certainly somebody who is not afraid to take a risk.
Both full-backs, Branislav Ivanović and Cesar Azpilicueta, were sluggish and toothless in attack, particularly the latter who seems to be immune to criticism according to many. Ivanović created one chance and Azpilicueta zero. Conte has had fast, attack-orientated full-backs/wing-backs in his Juventus and Italy sides but neither the Serb or the Spaniard fit that criteria.
That’s why Alonso was bought for £24 million from Fiorentina. It’s not cheap by any means of course—for a generally unproven 25-year-old uncapped Spanish international, who is probably best known for his spells at Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers—but he’ll offer the type of characteristics that Ivanović and Azpilicueta both lack.
Luiz and Alonso cannot fail to deliver, as they are needed more than ever at the moment.
