by Chelsea’s season is being so irregular that it has become a most unpredictable team. Capable of the best and the worst just a few days apart, it seems that we are going to have to get used to seeing two different Chelsea(s): the one that plays in the Premier League and the one that plays in Cup competitions.
Aston Villa
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Chelsea
Lineups
| Emi Martínez, Cash, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Álex Moreno, Kamara (Iroegbunam 91′), Douglas Luiz, Bailey (Zaniolo 87′), Tielemans (Ramsey 72′), McGinn (Diaby 72′), Watkins |
| Petrovic, Malo Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile (Gilchrist 87′), Chilwell, Caicedo (Nkunku 81′), Enzo Fernández, Palmer (Thiago Silva 81′), Gallagher, Madueke (Sterling 75′), Jackson |
Against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, in the repeat of the 1/16 finals played at Villa Park, it was time to see the latter. A team that seems to regain confidence in itselfwho is intense, with hardly any mistakes at the back and who plays football in a way that we have barely been able to glimpse in the league competition.
The experiment works
From the start of the match the visiting team made clear their idea of going on the attack. Pochettino placed Nico Jackson on the left wing, something he already tried against Luton, leaving Cole Palmer at the point of attack with complete freedom while Madueke was on the other side. Recovering the ball in the opponent’s half, Chelsea quickly went on the attack with many troops.
The approach did a lot of damage to Aston Villa and it only took 10 minutes for them to Gallagher, after a good play on the wing by Nico Jackson and a perfect drop shot by Madueke, opened the scoring. Emery’s men had a hard time reaching the rival goal, while Pochettino’s men found shooting situations easily, especially thanks to the verticality and overflow of their wingers.
In the 21st minute, this time on the right side, Chelsea once again did a lot of damage on the wing. with a play that culminated in a center from Malo Gusto and a header from Nico Jacksoncompletely alone in the small area to score the visitors’ second goal at will.
Anthological goal between friends
The second half began with Emery’s team looking for a quick reaction, but what was yet to come was the goal of the night. In a very distant foul, Enzo Fernández took responsibility, placed the ball and looked at how his friend and teammate on the Argentine team, ‘Dibu’ Martínez, was positioned. The Chelsea player’s hit was unappealable, a shot into the top corner to sign one of the goals of the season.
To celebrate, after the rumors that had placed him away from Chelsea, Enzo took off his shirt, pointed to the shield and made the mythical ‘Yo, here’ with signs. Pochettino’s team thus certified the elimination of Aston Villa, made up only by a goal from Diaby in stoppage time, and recovered morale after the setback they suffered in the Premier against Wolves (2-4). The bad news was left by the injuries of Moi Caicedo and Badiashile
The Chelsea of the Cups appeared again, the one that is in the final of the Carabao Cup and in the round of 16 of the FA Cup, the team that between both competitions has already ‘killed’ teams like Brihgton, Newcastle and Aston Villa; the one that does offer reasons to excite the ‘blue’ fans this season.
