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- London is Blue Dispatch #073
London is Blue Dispatch #073
Southampton vs Chelsea Review: Record-breaking attacking display validates Maresca's faith in rotation.
“We’ve got our Chelsea back,” came the chants through the pouring rain, followed immediately by those singing the name of Enzo Maresca. By the time Jadon Sancho lashed in a 5th, spirits of the Saints fans had dampened beyond repair. It was emblematic of Southampton to be their own worst enemies – after a bright start and restoring parity to breathe some hope into their woeful season, their captain led by example to initiate their all too familiar capitulation.
Barring the initial clunkiness of the Blues B team figuring out how to recalibrate, this was a display of attacking opulence that spilled into the imprudent. Chelsea became the first team to create 10 big chances in the Premier League. They also missed seven of those, a few at a time when Southampton were threatening to recreate the nadirs of last season.
This was a first mid-week PL game for Maresca. One wondered in the lead-up if the B-team gimmick was finally up. Maresca did toe the fine line between confidence and arrogance by opting for a rotated XI – the away-day cheat-code Nicolas Jackson was rested, as was the in-form Pedro Neto, both almost certainly put out of harm’s way from a 5th yellow card that would have seen them miss the vital Spurs game at White Hart Lane. Jorgensen was rewarded for a record-breaking performance that included 11 saves against Noah with a first PL start; Joao Felix was entrusted with a rare PL outing as well after an industrious display in his last performance.
Cole Palmer however, kept his place, as did the indefatigable Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella. Enzo Fernandez, on a purple patch which saw him notch 8 G/A in 5 appearances played on next to his South-American compatriot, despite both enduring hectic travel schedules this past international break. It is perhaps why Enzo Fernandez did have a few uncharacteristic moments – one sequence where he committed two errors led to Aribo’s equalizer. Caicedo, after a standout last 7 months, had one of his more subdued games until Stephens’ sending off.
Maresca’s rotation was less generous than the 11 changes he has been making in the UECL – perhaps a lesson learnt from the sobering defeat in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle. Here was a side with a lot more balance and quality, leaving a lot less to chance and giving the opposition less incentive to come firing out the blocks. To his credit, Maresca, despite having to juggle two different XIs, has given meritocracy a chance to take root – those willing to fight when given the small chances have been given the big ones.
The game itself wasn’t quite one Chelsea have grown accustomed to playing. In the first half, Southampton edged possession, at one point controlling 69% of it. An excellent set-piece, Enzo’s 9th G/A in 6 games created the lead, Nkunku’s 12th goal in all-competitions from the guaranteed Southampton error stole all momentum away. Stephens’ red sealed their fate even before the 2nd half kicked off.
In the end, this was as close to the ideal game Maresca and Chelsea could have wished for. Jackson and Neto fresh and available for Spurs, shiny new records for the manager’s legacy, making up two points on the Slot machine, and goals for the famished wing-duo of Madueke and Sancho, which will do their confidence a world of good.
December will ask far sterner questions though – if Maresca is willing to rest Palmer for a midweek PL game, and if a side missing five in-form starters can beat a side that isn’t as self-destructive as Russel Martin’s Southampton. But for now, 2nd place 14 games in defies even the most optimistic of expectations from this season. Head in the clouds, feet on the ground. Bring on Tottenham.