THERE may have been a serious level of assistance from a hapless
Brazilian defender and an over-zealous German referee.
But Frank Lampard’s new-look Chelsea are gelling, they are clicking,
and they are starting to swagger.
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Timo Werner scored two penalties as Chelsea beat Rennes 3-0Credit: Reuters
Dalbert was sent off after giving away the second penaltyCredit: EPA
Rennes defender Dalbert was harshly sent off by ref Felix Zwayer after
giving away two penalties before half-time – both converted by Timo
Werner.
Tammy Abraham added a third soon after the break as the Blues were
propelled towards the Champions League knock-out stage.
Chelsea have done well out of Rennes in recent weeks – signing their
keeper Edouard Mendy, who has now kept six clean sheets in a row, in
place of the bullet-ridden Kepa Arrizabalaga.
A lockdown and a blue wall. Chelsea are seriously topical right now.
Despite the scoreline, Rennes will feel majorly aggrieved about the
officiating after they’d held their own until Dalbert’s dismissal.
But as central London thronged with drinkers in last-chase saloons,
Chelsea had been ahead of the game when it came to pulling down the
shutters – seven and a half hours have now passed since they last
conceded.
Tammy Abraham swept Chelsea into a 3-0 leadCredit: EPA
The Blues are top of Group E at the halfway stageCredit: EPA
The past eight days have brought ten goals too – albeit against
Burnley, the Russians of Krasnodar and now these French Champions
League rookies.
It is tough to make too many hard and fast judgements about that run of
fixtures but Chelsea are now getting it right at both ends of the
pitch, a balance they had struggled to strike in the early weeks of
the season.
Lampard had to do without Kai Havertz, after the German tested
positive for coronavirus, meaning he will still be in isolation for
Saturday’s Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
Yet the other five of Chelsea’s summer signings all started and they
had been improving – vastly so in defence.
Chelsea’s new-look strikeforce did the business this eveningCredit: EPA
The Blues had been largely unconvincing in the Champions League under
Lampard, squeezing through their group last year, only to be gubbed by
Bayern Munich in the last 16 and held here by Sevilla in their opener.
Indeed, Chelsea have failed to make the quarter-finals of this
competition in the last six seasons. But they are close to getting
another stab at making there, after this.
Rennes had a loud but unconvincing penalty appeal for handball against
Kurt Zouma turned down before Chelsea won their spot-kick.
As Werner turned, his heel was clipped by Dalbert, and the German –
who has taken over penalty responsibilities from Jorginho – drilled
home his sixth goal in eight games.
Jorginho had missed twice this season, having been flawless from the
spot last term, but Werner is unlikely to give up the job any time
soon.
And besides, Lampard is old enough to remember the days when German
efficiency from the penalty spot was a cast-iron certainty.
Edouard Mendy offered a reliable presence in goal for the Blues against his former clubCredit: AFP or llicensors AFP or Licensors
Rennes were dominating possession but failing to test their old mate
Mendy – although when Hakim Ziyech was booked for a foul on Dalbert,
Benjamin Bourigeaud whipped a free-kick narrowly wide across goal.
But then came the decisive moment as Tammy Abraham had a shot blocked
by Dalbert, with his arms raised.
Some time later, VAR intervened and Zwayer had a peek at the pitchside
monitor before he pointed at the spot and showed poor old Dalbert the
meanest of second yellows.
Werner did the business from 12 yards once more and the Blues went
into the break with big cigars on.
Chelsea began the second half in overdrive, Ziyech firing over from
close range before Reece James whipped in a cross to the near post
which Abraham spanked home first time.
Abraham soon made way for Olivier Giroud, who was denied by Rennes
keeper Alfred Gomis.
Rennes refused to capsize, and they forced a comfortable of saves from
Mendy – routine saves, yet even that variety had seemed beyond Kepa
before he was put out of his misery.
Late on, Mendy made a very good stop to thwart Clement Grenier before
a follow-up effort was disallowed for offside.
Lampard’s side will not always benefit from such generous defending or
refereeing and they remain a work in progress.
But progress has been swift of late and, after £220million was spent,
the promise is suitably rich.
Chelsea star Kai Havertz tests positive for coronavirus and will miss Champions League clash with Rennes
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
