It was an occasion when Frank Lampard’s youthful Chelsea team, which featured four recent academy graduates, were placed up close and personal with the demands of a high‑pressure Champions League occasion. From the first whistle, it was plain that one slip could be the difference between something and nothing in terms of the result. And nothing would have seriously jeopardised Chelsea’s chances of progress out of Group H.
This was the big test of the manager’s developing lineup, of recent levels that had seen them win five successive matches in all competitions, and it was one that they passed in glorious style. The resilience of their defending, especially in the first-half, was particularly noteworthy, with Fikayo Tomori – one of the homegrown products – earning top billing.
Written by David Hytner at the Johan Cruyff Arena
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/23/ajax-chelsea-champions-league-match-report under the title “Chelsea leave it late but Michy Batshuayi makes the difference at Ajax”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
