Chelsea supporters reacted to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s performance against Copenhagen by making an interesting point about Blues loanee Joao Felix.
Chelsea did a decent job on Thursday evening to secure a 2-1 away win over Copenhagen. It gives them an advantage in the last-16 Conference League tie ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge in seven days time.
Following a dull opening 45 minutes, Enzo Maresca’s side managed to spring into action in the second-half. The Chelsea manager deserves credit for intervening with three half-time substitutions.
Reece James put the visitors ahead in the first leg with a low strike from outside the box before Enzo Fernandez added a crucial second goal in the 65th minute. However, Copenhagen reduced the deficit with Gabriel Pereira’s late header from a set-piece.
The Chelsea player ratings versus Copenhagen highlighted a real mixture of good and bad displays.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea fans react to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall performance vs Copenhagen, question Joao Felix’s exit
Chelsea’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who completed 90 minutes against Copenhagen, was a big talking point with supporters on social media.
The 26-year-old Englishman really struggled in the first-half when playing as left-sided No 10. In the second period, he was quiet again after moving across to the right wing and then more centrally.
Interestingly, Blues fans on X made the same point that Joao Felix would’ve been a much more effective option than Dewsbury-Hall in Thursday’s European match. Instead, he was loaned out to AC Milan for the rest of the season in the winter transfer window.
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One fan said: “Not to be that guy because I don t even think he’s that good, but Joao Felix instead of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and we have a completely different match.”
“Joao Felix would have been perfect combining with Cole Palmer as a double 10 today instead of Dewsbury-Hall,” another posted.
One supporter claimed: “Get rid of Felix who routinely opened up every single conference league opponent to play Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in advanced areas.”
“Literally just thought to myself that Felix would be feasting. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall offers nothing,” another said.
Dewsbury-Hall was recalled to the starting XI for the Copenhagen tie to continue his run of playing in every Conference League game so far this season. Unfortunately, it was another frustrating game for the former Leicester City star.
Maresca didn’t want Chelsea to sign Dewsbury-Hall at the start of the season, which seems apparent because he can’t break into the best team.
During Chelsea’s slender win over Copenhagen, Dewsbury-Hall did very little to help his cause to play more regularly.
Minutes played Accurate passes Total shots Chances created Successful dribbles Tackles won Dribbled past Match rating
90 26/35 (74%) 0 0 2/3 (67%) 1/1 (100%) 2 7.2
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s performance vs Copenhagen via FOTMOB
Photo credit should read Michael Barrett Boesen / GocherImagery/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Photo credit should read Michael Barrett Boesen / GocherImagery/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Joao Felix move bad for all parties
We agree that Felix could’ve been a more useful attacking option than Dewsbury-Hall in midweek.
The 25-year-old Portuguese star scored four goals in the Conference League in the first half of the season, but he simply wasn’t getting enough game time in the other competitions.
Club Appearnaces Goals Assists
Chelsea 20 7 2
AC Milan 8 1 0
Joao Felix in the 2024/25 season
As you can see above, the goals are hardly flowing for the on-loan Milan forward at the San Siro.
Milan don’t plan to buy Felix when his loan deal expires in the summer, so you’ve got to wonder whether he should’ve stayed in West London. It’s worth remembering that he signed a seven-year contract when he joined last summer as well.