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The Seville sports newspaper describes it as “ridiculous” “embarrassment” on a “historic” night at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, which hosted a European game for the hundredth time and saw the locals humiliated with a 4-0 tune by the visitors. Sevilla rarely lose at home, only their third in all competitions in the last 12 months, and they certainly don’t lose by four at home. A 5-0 loss in the Copa del Rey to Barcelona is the only other time since December 2011.
Of course, Sevilla did not serve their stronger side (due to injuries and a massive game against Real Madrid at the weekend), but neither did Chelsea (due to fatigue and squad management). Both teams had already secured a place in the knockout rounds, so only the seed designation was up for grabs.
None of that should take away from the magnificence of the Chelsea team’s performance and of course the magnificence of Olivier Giroud’s historic individual performance. Head coach Frank Lampard, the last person to score four in a game for Chelsea before last night, was obviously quite delighted with all of this, especially after making nine changes since the weekend’s goalless draw against Spurs.
“[There’s] Always the concern when you make that level of changes. But the focus and concentration of the team, the moments of suffering that we will always do against a team like this in the first half […chef’s kiss].
“We took care of things, we defended well, we were organized and part of our game was great, whether it was our comfort with the ball, our counterattack in rhythm to cause them a threat. There were so many great advantages tonight and we have to continue that. “
The advantages are not much bigger than a substitute striker scoring four goals, but are any of us really surprised by Giroud’s excellence and professionalism? If you’ve been paying attention for the past three years, you really shouldn’t.
Like good wine, Giroud is getting better with age, getting better at being Giroud: we know what he is and he knows what he is. Yes, a male model and coldness personified (that second goal was just outright rude despite the failure of the kneeling slip celebration), but also a world-class target man and professional model.
“It was an incredible performance, scoring four goals at this level, Champions League level, against a really good opponent, then the individual quality of all his goals. […] no wonder he receives a standing ovation when he leaves the field. And I’m delighted for him ”.
“When you play with him, you know his attributes, it’s important that we have a lot of energy around him, people who can run away from him and support him. He has qualities to obviously hold the ball and turn the balls in the area like N’Golo does.
“So I loved all those parts of us at the top end of the field.”
In fact, there was a lot to love about last night. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it’s still just a game, and a game that (probably) didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
As always, it is important not to get carried away, even if we are now undefeated at 15 and have kept a clean sheet in 8 of our last 10 in all competitions.
“[Improvement] it is collective and has many aspects. We have worked. The boys left and worked a short offseason. The staff and I did analysis of many areas of our game that we wanted to improve.
“My job is to put them into action through boot camp work. The other aspect is working with the players to make sure that the drive, momentum and spirit of the players is good. The most important thing is the players; players have to go out there and act like they did today.
“[…] people will be excited, especially after a result like tonight, but as always consistency is what makes you win titles. Premier Leagues and Champions Leagues: we cannot play like tonight and lower the level. Maintaining that level is what will bring success. “
-Frank Lampard; source: Football.London
Amen.
