Ajax 0-1 Chelsea: Lampard’s stock rises as solid Blues take a big scalp in Amsterdam
Youthful exuberance is a phrase which has generally defined Chelsea’s 2019-20 season so far under Frank Lampard.
With a former player in charge and a transfer ban in effect the Blues have called back youngsters from loan deals and integrated them into the first team.
That has lead to a lot of excitement and impressive performances but, under a rookie manager, also a fair share of naivety.
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Tonight, away in the Champions League against last year’s semi-finalists and one of the most eye-catching sides of recent years, they were anything but naive.
Chelsea put in a solid, mature display in Amsterdam and were rewarded with a well-deserved scalp.
Ajax hadn’t lost since 8 May. They had won their first two Group H games 3-0. And they were outplayed at home by the Blues.
Solid spine
Last season Ajax wowed the competition with free-flowing, interchanging intelligent football which was proficient enough to see off both Real Madrid and Juventus. Today they were nullified to the extent that they mustered just two shots on target.
The key to Chelsea’s shut-out was their solid spine. Jorginho was partnered by Mateo Kovacic in central midfield and the duo were exceptional.
They shielded their defence expertly, shutting down the dangerous roaming of Donny van der Beek which unpicked so many more experienced sides last year.
Behind them Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori were imperious, sweeping up loose balls and dominating the aerial battle.
Close encounters
That said there were a few close encounters for Lampard’s side. Quincy Promes appeared to have given the hosts the lead 35 minutes in when he turned home Hakim Ziyech’s deflected cross, only for VAR to rule it out for a very marginal offside.
Edson Alvarez also came close to an opening goal when his diving header at the near post from a corner flicked the outside of the post on 59 minutes.
Lampard said afterwards that his side “deserved” the luck and looking at the performance as a whole he has a valid point.
Super subs
As good as Chelsea had been for the opening 65 minutes, they hadn’t created a great deal of chances.
Andre Onana kept out a low drive from Mason Mount at the near post, while Callum Hudson-Odoi smashed a loose ball wide, but their solidity didn’t bear fruit until the closing stages.
That owed a lot to Chelsea’s fitness and persistence in their pressing and boldness, but mainly to their substitutes.
Christian Pulisic entered the pitch for Willian on 65 minutes, while Michy Batshuayi joined him five minutes later for Tammy Abraham and together they set about clinching the game.
The attacking duo combined on three separate occasions – notably when Batshuayi chested down a deflected shot from the American but skied his finish – before they combined for the winner.
Pulisic’s shimmy, run to the byline and cut-back was dummied by Marcos Alonso and Batshuayi thundered it in off the bar to give the team’s performance the goal it needed.
Lampard’s stock rises
Of course it was Lampard who decided to bring them on, and it was the former midfielder who also chose the personnel and the tactical system which out-smarted Ajax.
Just as Lampard deserved criticism for some of his decision-making early in the season, he warrants praise now. With six successive wins in all competitions now under his belt the blueprint he is trying to create has well and truly taken shape.
“I knew how tough this game would be – they’re a really strong side,” he beamed post-match.
“To play and beat them – and we deserved to beat them – is so satisfying. I was so, so proud of the performance.”
Main image credit: Getty Images