A clinical display from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night saw the Blues pick apart their visitors, Brighton, giving the hosts a major boost for their hopes of finishing the season in the top four.
News of Callum Hudson Odoi being handed his first Premier League start would stir plenty of commotion before the match; however, the performance that was to follow from Chelsea would stir even more commotion after the match. From the start, Chelsea began pushing Brighton into their own half, limiting the Seagull’s opportunities to venture forward.
Of course, the man making his debut would be involved in the first goal as Odoi brushed aside Anthony Knockaert to send in a cross which Olivier Giroud nonchalantly flicked in. The Chelsea academy product would continue to work his way down the wings with the visitors able to do little to stop him.
However, it would be Odoi’s countryman, Ruben Loftus-Cheek involved in the next goal. The England international’s first-time pass to the Belgian magician, Hazard, ended how one would expect it to end – with the ball in the back of the net. A neat chop and curling effort by the Chelsea star took Mat Ryan completely out of the equation.
A very similar goal but an arguably better one was soon to follow. The scorer this time would not be Hazard, but rather, the provider for the last goal Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Knockaert gifted the ball to the Chelsea winger who then dribbled forward bending in a terrific strike from outside the box. The strike would be the icing on the cake for Chelsea who seemed to be the only team that had actually prepared for the match.
It would be a tale of two football clubs at the end of the 90 minutes with Chelsea celebrating taking a step closer to a guaranteed place in the Champions League next season and Brighton bowing their head in defeat, wondering if they will even be in the Premier League next season.
Chelsea: Sarri’s had it all wrong
Fans could not understand why Sarri refused to start Odoi for much of the season. Excuses were that he was too young or not ready or that another player had more to offer in that position. Those excuses have not fared well with Willian’s form dipping dramatically and Odoi’s performances only increasing in quality as his minutes on the pitch increase.
This match in particular showed that the teenager is ready to be a starter. There are plenty of teenagers in top teams across the world: Tyler Adams at Leipzig, Diego Lainez at Real Betis and of course Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund. That said, why hasn’t Odoi been able to secure his position as a starter in this Chelsea team?
Who can know what Sarri is pondering as he paces back and forth puffing away at his cigarettes, but the Italian must recognize that giving Odoi minutes can be no worse than giving Willian minutes. To the manager, it may seem like a gamble, but as things stand now it is probably one of the safest gamble’s he will ever have the opportunity of taking.
Brighton: No plan B
Brighton have grown increasingly sloppy and repetitive since the New Year and there is little to say about the Seagull’s for this match because they did little. In fact, the most notable actions from the team came from their mistakes which ultimately led to Chelsea’s marvelous goals.
One can imagine Chris Hughton repeating “defend, defend, defend” to his players without mentioning another word simply because Brighton’s play has failed to show anything else. Worst of all is that defending could have once been considered as one of the positives traits this team carried, but even their defending has grown sloppy as evidenced by Knockaert’s mistakes throughout the match.
It may be fatigue or a lack of motivation, but Hughton and his team look defeated. Their football has grown increasingly pedestrian and the manager has seemingly run out of tricks. A collapse looks to be on the horizon and Manchester City looked poised to tear through Brighton this weekend in the FA Cup.
Chelsea: Where do they go from here?
It seems likely that Chelsea will be in Champions League next season, but of course, that was expected of the Blues. The fans will undoubtedly be clamoring for more next season but will Chelsea be able to offer more? It would be unfair to say that Sarri has been one dimensional as he very well could have a better second season. After all, Guardiola did not win a trophy until his second season in the Premier League.
Still, with rumors of Hazard leaving for Madrid and many fans unhappy with Sarri, Chelsea’s future is anything but clear. The transfer ban placed on the Blues is another reason for worry, and although Chelsea have quality players in their squad, it is time for some players to move on from Stamford Bridge.
It is another transition period for the London club and transitions tend to be uncomfortable, especially for big clubs. Chelsea will continue to perform and may even win Europa League this season, but 3rd place and Europa League will not satisfy fans, players, or board members for long. Direction and consistency is needed at the club and if it is not achieved then the transition may take longer than expected.
Brighton: Worthy of relegation?
It is still fairly early, but two teams have already lost their place in the Premier League. Fulham and Huddersfield will return to the Championship next season and a spot remains for one more team. Cardiff seem likely to be the third relegated team; however, Southampton, Burnley and Brighton could very well slide into the relegation zone in the coming weeks.
Brighton are still five points clear, but that lead could slip at any time with the team’s recent negative form. Their loss to Southampton suggests this team has lost its desire to fight, and with a stretch of difficult games on the horizon, the Seagull’s look a prime candidate for relegation.
If Brighton had shown anything positive in recent matches then one could assume they could at least grab a couple of points from their upcoming matches, but as of late the Seagulls look out of their depth. Boring, flat, uninspiring and unmotivated are all perfect words to describe the team Hughton has on his hands at the moment. It’s all very tight at the bottom of the table, but with this team’s form, it’s possible that the Championship will be welcoming Brighton back home.
