Liam Rosenior is earning plenty of praise after masterminding Chelsea’s 3-2 away win over Napoli on Wednesday night, and booking his side’s place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Chelsea had been expected to win given Napoli’s injury concerns. Antonio Conte bemoaned his lack of options before the match, with seven Napoli stars sidelined including Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour.
Despite that, Napoli cancelled out Enzo Fernandez’s opener and went into the break 2-1 up thanks to goals from Antonio Vergara and Rasmus Hojlund. But Joao Pedro took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Two stunning goals in the second half saw Chelsea come from behind to win 3-2 and book a place in the top six. The Blues will take on either Newcastle, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
Chelsea could still sign a new attacker after cooling their interest in Antoine Semenyo. Who would you target, or are you content with Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens?
Antoine Semenyo in action during Sunderland v Bournemouth - Premier League
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
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There were many positives, but one slight negative might have been the reaction of Jamie Gittens after Liam Rosenior decided to substitute the substitute and bring Gittens off in the final minutes of the win.
Liam Rosenior explains decision to substitute Jamie Gittens
While Rosenior’s decision was understandable given Napoli were pushing for a third goal and so much was at stake, there is nothing more embarrassing in football as a player, than being subbed as a sub.
Jamie Gittens playing for Chelsea against Ajax in the Champions League.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
The win, and the progression to the last 16 has overshadowed any frustration Gittens may have. But it is another example of Gittens’ struggles, and he will not have been happy at being subbed off by Rosenior.
“Jamie Gittens came on and made a huge difference. I had to take him off at the end, big Lukaku had come on and I needed an extra defender on the pitch in that moment,” Rosenior told TNT Sport.
Jamie Gittens might be staring at the exit door in the summer
Chelsea might have released Raheem Sterling, but they have four natural wingers including £55m Gittens. That is before Cole Palmer is considered as a winger over a no.10, and the arrival of Georgia Quenda.
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The Sporting Lisbon ace is a huge talent and will link up with Chelsea in the summer. So what can happen with Gittens? Well, there is clearly a player there, and Rosenior will want to give the youngster a chance.
Especially, as he cost a massive £55m. The issue Gittens has is that he isn’t the first choice, and while he isn’t, he cannot get any rhythm with wingers Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Estevao above him.
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