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Thomas Tuchel continues to benefit from the protégés of his predecessors. Chelsea made it into the top five with a third straight win under their new manager. For the second game in a row, Maurizio Sarri’s former ally, Jorginho, converted a penalty. Once again, part of Frank Lampard’s legacy proved that he is becoming an integral part of the new regime. Mason Mount scored Chelsea’s first and last league goals with his mentor. He opened his account for his successor with a Lampard-style coup to set up a close victory and leave a score.
There was also a different first type. When Chelsea named Tuchel, it seemed like a ploy to get a German teammate to score. Kai Havertz was absent through injury and Timo Werner’s drought extended to 14 league games, but his less expensive compatriot Antonio Rüdiger became the first player to score against Tuchel’s Chelsea with a comical own goal.
Meanwhile, Mount overshadowed the big buys to become the first player operating in the new manager’s front three to find the net for him and the youngest man to record 10 Premier League goals for Chelsea since Arjen Robben. Werner’s only willing goal in three months was against Morecambe, but he contributed to both goals against Chris Wilder’s team and almost scored it himself. The evening on credit ended.
A supportive Tuchel said: “It was decisive. A brilliant run for the first goal and it was a great decision for the second goal. When he plays like this we are happy ”.
Werner’s emotions were more mixed. “I’m happy with two assists, but as a forward you want to score,” he said. “It’s been a long time and I haven’t had that long without [a goal] in my career “.
Each game can increase your distress. Werner turned down an early opportunity. Mateo Kovacic released him with a long pass, Werner was sure to finish off a shot on the attack of Aaron Ramsdale but his shot lacked enough power; Chris Basham materialized behind the keeper to make a tremendous interception.
It was apparently the first of two clearances from the goal line by the brave Basham, a symbol of Sheffield United’s resilience that made life uncomfortable for Chelsea. He reappeared when Kean Bryan missed a backward pass, Werner running towards Ramsdale, his knee hitting the goalkeeper’s face as the ball was closer to Basham than either of them. The referee, Kevin Friend, was initially unconvinced there was foul play, but reviewed the incident on the court monitor and issued the penalty.
“I was surprised it didn’t happen right away,” Werner said. “In the future, maybe he can take a penalty.” Jorginho has been preferred to him for point-throwing duties and he reverted to his jump, jump and jump technique to send Ramsdale down the wrong path.
While the goalkeeper, who was then evaluated by United medics and deemed fine to continue, looked like a candidate to become the first player to be replaced by a substitute for concussion in the Premier League, the damage came down to luck. from United. They had parity for 70 seconds before the penalty was awarded. Oli McBurnie had looked for Oliver Burke. Rüdiger failed to notice that Édouard Mendy had left his line and pushed the ball past the goalkeeper to end his clean sheet streak with Tuchel. “There is still no goal from the opponent; We did it ourselves, ”said the manager.
“We were lucky not to concede first,” Tuchel admitted. United received a penalty for Ben Chilwell’s pull on Basham, only for the VAR to rule that the latter was offside. They had very little of the ball, but managed to threaten in the first minute, when Burke fired into the side net, and in the 95, when Mendy stood out to clear Billy Sharp’s aerial kick.
“They had between £ 500 million and £ 1 billion of quality to order,” Wilder lamented; On the contrary, a coach who felt aggrieved by the directive ignored his suggestions for the January signings only appointed six substitutes. “Very decent, those players, right? They punish when you open the door for them. “
He regretted the form of the goals, but otherwise his team defended bravely. Werner teased them from his bunk as an inside-left. United were unlocked by the acceleration of the German for the first game. He reached the byline to find Chilwell’s pass, provided a cutout, and Mount chose the far corner with expert precision.
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“Mason Mount is brilliant,” Wilder said admiringly. “They have a ridiculous quality.” And they have a renewed hope. Chelsea was ninth when Lampard was fired. Now, Tuchel said: “We want to try everything to get to the top four. We are the hunters of the teams in front of us and we are close. “
