WATCHING Chelsea versus Rennes tonight was a bit like travelling back in time a year to last season – it was very much typical Chelsea under Frank Lampard.
Chelsea were leading 1-0 throughout the majority of the game and were largely in control, albeit a few moments where Rennes were looking a threat.
Olivier Giroud was the matchwinner for Chelsea as they reached the last-16Credit: EPA
But it was one of those occasions that Blues fans grew used to watching last season.
Chelsea just didn’t ever have a strong enough hold on the game to make you feel like they could hold on for all three points.
They missed chances early on and it always had a feel that Rennes would equalise, which they did inside the last ten minutes.
But this was different to last season. Just when you thought it was over and Chelsea had drawn the match – up pops Olivier Giroud with a late winner.
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This is the type of winning mentality and confidence that this group of players has this season, a major difference from last season.
Many of Lampard’s players looked fatigued and it really showed with some of them, like Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell missing their first touches, making silly errors.
Werner even missed a real sitter early on in the game.
But Chelsea have something else that they didn’t have last season – excellent squad depth, with the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Cesar Azpilicueta came into the starting line-up.
Both had excellent performances, proving the strength in depth now at Lampard’s disposal.
Frank Lampard’s side got the job done – justCredit: Reuters
Then at the end when they thought all was lost, Giroud was thrown on by Lampard to win the game, and that’s exactly what he did.
The Blues never gave up, even when Rennes equalised late on. Chelsea went back up the other end of the pitch and tried to score, they even came close with Hakim Ziyech.
This is the type of mentality that was often missing last season, and this was with a Chelsea squad who were fatigued and not at their best.
Rennes are a good side, and they made it really tough for Lampard and the players.
But to go away in the Champions League – with a set of players who were clearly tired – and return with all three points is a real sense of achievement and shows a massive difference from a year ago.
Chelsea fans in hysterics as Joe Cole tells Frank Lampard to give players a ‘smacked bum’ at half-time vs Rennes
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
