Chelsea: defensively robust and seizing key opportunities

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Chelsea continued their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive win against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge last night. This, part in thanks to their impressive defensive ability.

Despite coming out on top, the blues looked shaky at points, coming under pressure from a Villa team who were clinical in all but their final ball.

Aston Villa, unlucky to be heading in 1-0 down at the break, were consistently threatening, particularly down the left-hand side with England forward Ollie Watkins being denied by Chelsea’s robust defence on multiple occasions.

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Having shut out Liverpool for 45 minutes last week (after losing Reece James to a red card) Chelsea proved, yet again, how their assured defence, is going to be pivotal to their undoubted success moving through the 2021/22 season.

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Of course, part of this defence includes French goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Mendy was intrinsic in ensuring Chelsea went in 1-0 up at the break, denying Aston Villa with a succession of impressive saves. Mendy arguably kept Chelsea ahead, as the team faced a wave of Aston Villa attacks.

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Making his Stamford Bridge debut, Saul Nigez looked shaky in midfield for the Blues, leaving Chelsea’s back four exposed at times. Despite this, the Chelsea back four remained defensively assured, always disciplined and always in tune, leaving Aston Villa, and particularly summer signing Danny Ings to run out of ideas.

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Turning points:

Games like this are always determined by key moments. Key events. Events that dictate the play and set the result in stone. This game had two.

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Firstly, the early booking of Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey. The 20 year old was dominating and setting the tone for Villa in midfield, seemingly filling the place of ex-captain Jack Grealish, until a rash shirt-pull earned him a deserved yellow card. Subsequently, the young Birmingham born midfielder became more cautious in the middle, reluctant to make challenges. This allowed Mateo Kovacic the time and freedom on the ball to play a scintillating pass forward to Romelu Lukaku who’s majestic touch fired Chelsea in front much to the delight of the home crowd.

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The second, more pivotal moment, was the sloppy back pass from England defender Tyrone Mings. Aston Villa, who were clearly fired up by manager Dean Smith at half time, came out fighting from the start of the second half. Continuing to pile the pressure on Chelsea, the boys in claret and blue initially looked the more likely to score next. However, the sloppiest of back passes from Mings allowed for Kovacic, who was arguably Chelsea’s Man of the Match, to pounce on the error and double Villa’s woes.

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Impressive Kovacic:

Whilst the plaudits from this game will no doubt go Lukaku’s way for his two superbly finished goals, Kovacic, who’s scoring record since arriving at Chelsea is not reflective of yesterday’s dominant performance, proved why Chelsea bought him from Real Madrid. Unlike Lukaku, who only had 25 touches in the game, Kovacic was consistently on the ball, dictating play and winning the ball back for his team mates in blue. Upon the final whistle the Croatian national had reaped the rewards for his impressive efforts with both a goal and an assist.

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Having had a phenomenal game, it is clear to see why Kovacic came with a £40 million price tag. Whilst defensively Chelsea were impressive, and as expected. Romelu Lukaku showed his quality with single touches, it was arguably Kovacic that allowed Chelsea to leave Stamford Bridge victorious.

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