There’s no sugarcoating it. This is a poor result for Chelsea, held to a draw against Qarabag and losing valuable ground in the Champions League table.
Qarabag shocked Chelsea in Baku, coming from behind to lead at the break and limiting the blues to one goal in the second half to seal a 2-2 upset.
An upset because Qarabag have a woeful record against English sides, scoring more goals in 45 minutes against the Blues than in seven prior meetings with Premier League opposition.
Even the most disappointing results can provide valuable lessons, and these are five that Enzo Maresca can take from a Champions League night to forget.
There are no nights off for Chelsea in the Champions League
There are so many games in a season these days, and you can’t blame Maresca for wanting to rotate. After all, this match was supposed to be a formality.
But that’s the difference between the Champions League and the third tier of European competition. This is a side that beat Benfica and Copenhagen, and the lineup Maresca fielded left them exposed. A Qarabag defender laid out their plan for Chelsea, and they executed it to perfection.
Jorrel Hato is still raw
There’s no two ways about it. Mistakes from Jorrel Hato cost Chelsea three points. The 19-year-old gave away the ball just outside the penalty area, leading to Qarabag’s first. He then gave away a penalty for a handball that was harsh but fair.
Jorrel Hato playing for Chelsea
Photo by TOFIK BABAYEV/AFP via Getty Images
Hato was outstanding against Ajax and earned his place in the starting XI, but tonight’s performance suggests he still has a ways to go in establishing himself as a starter. Hopefully, he can shake this performance off and learn from it.
Estevao is a future star
Forget the future. Estevao Willian is already a star. Another Player of the Match performance from the 18-year-old.
Leon Osman praised Estevao’s end-product after he scored Chelsea’s first in convincing fashion. He has broken another handful of records, I’m sure, and continues to show why he was so hyped coming from Brazil. He is inching his way into ‘Chelsea’s best player’ conversations. He’s not there yet, but the sky is the limit.
Josh Acheampong has to start for Chelsea
One teenager’s woes should open the door for another to bump up his minutes.
Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo weren’t convincing at the heart of Chelsea’s defence. We have seen time and again that Tosin needs a composed, technical defender alongside him to thrive. Hato may be technical, but the composure is still a bit away.
Josh Acheampong has been more than capable when called upon, and Maresca has to pick him over the two who started tonight. It’s as simple as that.
Romeo Lavia’s injury woes may never end
The draw is tough to take, but it’s something Chelsea can shake off relatively quickly and likely won’t derail their season.
But what happened in the eighth minute was just heartbreaking. Romeo Lavia was forced off having just broken back into Maresca’s plans. Fans think harsh conversations need to be had about Lavia, who just can’t seem to stay fit.
It’s gut-wrenching, because the talent he possesses is of an elite level. He could genuinely develop into one of Chelsea’s best players, if — and that ‘if’ is the problem — he could just avoid time on the sidelines. The player has done nothing wrong, and he certainly shouldn’t be getting any negativity thrown his way.
But questions are going to be raised about his future at Stamford Bridge.