By Alex Roberts
The Swedish aspect have considerably overachieved on the continent however that doesn’t imply they haven’t earned the proper to be the place they’re. Wins in opposition to extra established sides equivalent to Panathinaikos, Legia Warsaw, and Speedy Wien within the quarters have made them a darkish horse.
Chelsea are a special beast all collectively, nevertheless. There’s roughly £1.3 billion distinction between the 2 sides by way of squad worth, and on this recreation, cash actually talks.
Cobham have executed it once more
Tyrique George is the most recent Chelsea academy star making a reputation for himself. Not like 95% of those who got here earlier than him, he’s executed it with out happening mortgage first. The teen has grasped his alternative and ran with it.
The equaliser in opposition to Fulham earlier this month was the second that put his title on the lips of Chelsea followers throughout the globe, however within the very subsequent recreation in opposition to Everton, he was solely given a couple of minutes by under-pressure boss Maresca.
He’s acquired two objectives and 4 assists in simply 846 minutes throughout all competitions to date this season. That is precisely the form of recreation that will give George the chance to hold on his momentum and struggle for an everyday place.
The Swedes have issues in entrance of objective
For those who don’t know, the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s high division, is topsy turvy. It seems enjoying soccer within the nation’s harsh winters is sick suggested, who’d have thought it, so that they play via the summer season as an alternative.
Djurgården’s home season has solely simply begun, however they’re struggling. Sitting down in 11th with seven factors, they’ve remarkably solely scored one objective of their 5 video games, and that got here from right-back Adam Stahl.
None of their present crop of forwards have a historical past of being prolific and arising in opposition to the fourth finest defence within the Premier League could be a bridge too far.
“Play a right-back Enzo”
The Italian coach has come beneath appreciable hearth for a number of causes in latest months, with one of the vital complicated being what he’s at the moment doing with the right-back place. Central midfielder Moisés Caicedo was given the nod over Reece James within the 1-0 win over Everton.
At his finest, James is considered one of Chelsea’s most potent attacking threats. That has been nullified by Maresca’s insistence that he inverts into midfield or performs him as a CM from the beginning.
It’s additionally impacted Cole Palmer’s kind. The playmaker likes to play on the proper and drift into the quantity ten position, with out somebody overlapping he’s unable to attract out opposition defenders and get into positions that will enable him to attain or help. All this micromanaging has gone too far. Play a right-back Enzo.
Prediction
This will likely sound a bit of harsh however we merely can’t see Djurgården getting something from this one. We’re going to go along with a cushty 3-0 win for Chelsea right here.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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