Chelsea managed to beat Pafos at home in the Champions League, earning a narrow 1-0 win which could easily have gone in a very different direction.
The Blues started slowly once again, despite their limited opposition. Enzo Fernandez had a goal ruled out for a fairly obvious push and Benoit Badiashile headed one wide, which staved off the worst of the crowd’s dissatisfaction. Jorrel Hao .
But the continuation of the slow, sideways football we saw under Enzo Maresca is not pleasing Stamford Bridge. Liam Rosenior has only just arrived, but he’s suffering from the hangover from the previous coach. There just isn’t much slack to work with, especially given the unhappiness around the ownership.
The second half started with a little more possession for Pafos – but the introduction of Estevao at the break helped Chelsea look more dangerous too. But it was still slow, frustrating and often passive. When the breakthrough did finally come it was of course Moises Caicedo who made the difference, [popping up at the far post](https://chelsea.news/?p=155952&preview=true) to head in.
For a third game in a row for Liam Rosenior, it’s not very convincing – but he got the job done.
**MOTM – Moises Caicedo**
Analysis
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Chelsea’s team to fact Pafos, fairly generic group. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Rosenior is still figuring out this new group, but anyone who was hoping that the new man would bring a radical departure from the Enzo Maresca era will already be worrying. So far it’s been more of the same – defenders playing out from the back, midfielders playing back to defenders, wingers passing back to midfielders and a striker left isolated and ineffective.
We’ve even seen a repeat of the infuriating use of our full backs inverting into attacking midfield positions, with Malo Gusto today’s subject. Surely its time to give up on that idea if you can’t score an open play goal in a must win home game against pretty soft opposition?
Teams
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**Chelsea**
Filip Jorgensen
Malo Gusto
Wesley Fofana
Benoit Badiashile
Jorrel Hato
Reece James
Moises Caicedo
Pedro Neto
Enzo Fernandez
Alejandro Garnacho
Liam Delap
_Substitutes_
Robert Sanchez (s 46′)
Marc Cucurella (s 70′)
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (s 70′)
Andrey Santos
de Jesus Joao Pedro (s 70′)
Trevoh Chalobah
Tyrique George
Josh Acheampong
Marc Guiu
de Oliveira Estevao (s 46′)
Reggie Walsh
Landon Emenalo
**AE Pafos**
Jay Gorter
Derrick Luckassen
Ivan Sunjic
Kostas Pileas
da Silva Bruno
Vlad Dragomir
Pedro Rodrigues Pepe
Ken Sema
Mislav Orsic
de Brito Jaja
Oliveira Anderson Silva
_Substitutes_
Petros Petrou
Neofytos Michael
David Luiz
David Goldar
Domingos Quina (s 65′)
Mons Bassouamina (s 83′)
Landry Dimata (s 65′)
Alberto Bruno Langa (s 83′)
Georgios Michael (s 89′)
Pedro Caldieraro
Stats
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Quote of the game
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“It was a very important goal for the team.” – Moises Caicedo reacts after winning the game for Chelsea.