Winning the conference league is a mission the blues are not ready to fail as they trash Djurgarden 4-1 in the Europa Conference League semi-final first league. Nicolas Jackson was on fire during the match leaving fans impressed with his performance as he recorded a lethal brace for the blues.
The match between Chelsea and Djurgarden was played on an artificial pitch, which lots of players are not used to, unlike those in the Premier League. Aside from that, the row from the electric Swedish fans is enough to bring down the morale of anyone invited to play against Djurgarden. However, the Blues displayed dominance in the first league by recording a 4-1 victory, which gives them an edge in qualifying for the finals. During the match, Chelsea opened their scoring sheet with a shot from Jardim Sancho that was deflected before Noni Madueke doubled the lead with a composed finish just before the break.
At halftime of the match, Djurgarden showed a beautiful display by creating lots of chances and threats for the Blues. Despite the massive attack from the home side, Chelsea was able to show their superior quality by netting the second goal, which came from super sub Nicholas Jackson. The striker came off the bench to strike twice by capitalising on the defensive error from the Djurgarden side. The host had to pull back. With this victory, Enzo Maresca's side now have an advantage ahead of the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
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What Was Said?
In the words of Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager said
"We’re building momentum, and performances like this show the squad’s depth,”-During the post-match interview.
Enzo Maresca was very impressed with the performance of the blues. They all came out in full force to deliver the expected result despite Maresca resting some of his key players. He went ahead to praise his young players who gave it all, as well as praising Nicholas Jackson, who came from the bench as a super sub to deliver the lethal blow. He believes that Jackson's brace is the perfect response to all the criticism he has been facing. With all the praises, Maresca didn't leave out Chelsea's new debutant, Reggie Walsh, who nearly marked his big moment with a goal, and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who made multiple crucial saves.
The Bigger Picture
As it stands right now, chelsea is the favorite to lift the trophy this season. This alone is going to be a very big achievement for the blues as well as Enzo Maresca. With this Chelsea's convincing win, this underlines the clubs growing European predigree and hints at silverware in Enzo Maresca's First Season.
Even though the scoreline was perfect for the Blues to put them one step into the final, this isn't all about the score for the Blues. Anyone who watched the match between Chelsea FC and Djurgarden will admit that Chelsea showed some tactical discipline and confidence. Something the club needs right now to keep the momentum high. With this win, Chelsea's confidence is high, and they can take on any team,m either in the Premier League or the European Conference League. They now have a comfortable lead ahead of Djurgarden, and this gives them hopes of reaching the final to claim the trophy.
With the recent return of Nicholas Jackson, his brace Jackson’s return to form adds firepower, while Madueke and Sancho continue to provide creative sparks. Youngsters like Tyrique George and Josh Acheampong showed maturity beyond their years, suggesting the Blues’ long-term future is bright.
Did You Know?
Reggie Walsh is 16 years old and made his senior debut for Chelsea in the European Semi-Final which he almost score for the blues with his first touch. Scoring that goal would have been a golden one for the young lad.
The young star is playing for Chelsea academy, making him the first Chelsea's youngest-ever European debutant. This alone is something to commend, as Enzo Maresca shows that he is building a team for the future and his faith in the club's youth team. During the match, Walsh wasn’t the only teen to impress, as Tyrique George also stood out with his movement and work rate up front.
What's Next?
Chelsea will be facing Djurgarden at stamford bridege. Two things are going to happen, it's either going to be a walk in the park for the blues, or Djurgarden will come out in full force since they have nothing to lose. This means there are going to be a lot of surprises in the coming up games.
What do you think?
Are the Blues going to qualify, or is it going to be a competitive display? Let us know what you think in the comments section.