Chelsea vs Valencia
Champions League Group H
8:00pm Tuesday 17th September
Stamford Bridge
(Att: 39469)
As Frank Lampard lost 1-0 to Valencia on his Champions League debut ross Barkley missed a late VAR-awarded punishment.
Chelsea had the opportunity to cancel out Rodrigo’s 74th-minute opener and occupying a stage whenever the on-field officer was alerted by the Video Assistant Referee to Daniel Wass’ handball with three minutes remaining.
Barkley insisted that he should choose the spot-kick, snatching the ball off penalty taker Jorginho, however his effort cannoned off the top of the crossbar.
The late penalty controversy still awaits the first home success of his tenure at Chelsea and resisted a brutal introduction for Lampard, who dropped Mason Mount just 16 minutes.
Valencia fans and players allegedly arrived from disarray following the sacking of director Marcelino a week, however they were far from mutiny since they made a classy display contrary to Lampard’s young side which comprised four rival debutants.
Tammy Abraham, fresh from his hat-trick at Wolves, was denied that a Champions League goal if his movie was blocked by Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
Mason Mount then received a painful introduction to Europe when former Arsenal midfielder Frances Coquelin abandoned his claws.
Abraham went again using a far-post header from the cross and Willian run of Cesar Azpilicueta .
Willian, Chelsea danger in the first halfalmost fashioned a spectacular opener once he commanded Mateo Kovacic pass on his torso, but his shot flew over. And the Brazilian’s fierce drive towards the near post was parried clear by Cillessen.
Marcos Alonso took the game in the second half to Valencia early, drilling at a free-kick that Cillessen leaned behind before heading the subsequent corner.
But they fell behind, Rodrigo giving that the slip as he grabbed the ball and raced the chipped free-kick of Daniel Parejo to the Chelsea defence.
The play reached fever pitch five minutes when the players of Chelsea flocked to get a handball, also replays did reveal defender Wass’ hands had hit at.
Barkley, on as a substitute seven minutes earlier, took responsibility to crash his effort against the frame of the goal although a spot-kick was eventually given.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard:”Ross is the penalty taker. He was and felt a few, was when he has begun, and was pre-season and he missed it. I really don’t understand what the conversation was. Willian and jorginho have been the punishment takers about the pitch, but if Ross comes on, he also becomes the punishment.
“We probably deserved a win, or at the very least a draw. We created enough in the sport. Therefore it is a harsh lesson from Champions League soccer not plenty of chances but very great chances and clearly a penalty, then we concede in the 1 shot on goal. It is a game we played in, and we all lost.
The fantastic news is we have got five games to go in the group, but that’s the reality of dropping the first game in the home, it creates those [other] games more significant especially since they come back away from home”
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell advised The Debate:
“It is the same rigmarole as the Paul Pogba one – who is the designated taker? Barkley arrived after 80 minutes, so Jorginho’s generally and on takes them looks confident taking penalties. I can not find him not needing to take you.
“I can see what Willian’s doing with respect to saying’Can you fancy this? You encounter’. He still walks away but he had gone once, twice, three times when Barkley says yes.
Chelsea host team leaders Liverpool on Renault Super Sunday – live from 4pm on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off 4.30pm. Chelsea travel to Lille on Matchday 2 of the Champions League on October 2; kick-off 8pm.
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