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The Conference League is supposed to be where Chelsea live a little. This is a long way below Europe’s elite and fans expect their team to overwhelm opponents who operate in much smaller financial circles. They are waiting for Enzo Maresca to prove that his positional play can dazzle.
This was another strange Stamford Bridge occasion. The mood was muted, even though Chelsea advanced to the last eight by beating FC Copenhagen 3-1 on aggregate. A fourth consecutive win in all competitions was not without its complications and that meant the doubts around Maresca are not going away before Sunday’s trip to Arsenal.
Admittedly, Maresca could take satisfaction from Chelsea securing a slender win thanks to a piece of individualism from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. His goal had nothing to do with coordinated team play. It was all down to Dewsbury-Hall’s persistence and opportunism.
The former Leicester midfielder will hope this can kickstart his Chelsea career. He was crucial when Maresca’s Leicester won promotion last season but has struggled since being reunited with the Italian. It is an odd situation. Dewsbury-Hall is the Maresca stalwart who rarely plays for Maresca. He is the replacement for Conor Gallagher, who was busy scoring for Atlético Madrid against Real Madrid this week. Fans who wonder about the wisdom of Chelsea’s project have buys like Dewsbury-Hall in mind.
The disconnect between Maresca and the crowd was impossible to ignore. There was more booing at the end of a first half in which Chelsea fell woefully short of producing anything resembling incision in the final third. Copenhagen, who had hope of pulling off an unlikely comeback after a late goal left them 2-1 down after the first leg, did not have to extend themselves to keep their hosts at bay.
Everything was too robotic and restrained. Only Tyrique George, the 19-year-old winger, threatened to inject some urgency with a few direct runs down the right. On the whole, though, there was little flow or imagination to Chelsea’s football. They played in front of Copenhagen and again seem puzzled about how to pull a back five out of shape.
Jadon Sancho was quiet on the left. Pedro Neto threatened to burst through on goal on a couple of occasions but was mostly shut out. Copenhagen, who were backed by a vociferous away following, soon found confidence to break forward. Mohamed Elyounoussi was dangerous in the pockets. Josh Acheampong, filling in at left-back for Chelsea, had to make an important block early on.
Maresca was concerned enough to introduce Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella at half-time. Palmer had surely hoped to take the night off after playing with a stomach bug during Sunday’s victory against Leicester. Chelsea, though, cannot function without their star man. Palmer, who has been in a rut, needs others to step up and take on more responsibility in attack. Chelsea cannot rely on him every week.
But they are a team living on the edge. They remained unconvincing at the start of the second half and could have conceded when they Copenhagen caused problems with a couple of deep crosses.
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It was just as well that Copenhagen lacked the quality to take advantage. It always seemed likely that Chelsea’s greater resources would tell. So it proved when Dewsbury-Hall underlined his eagerness to impress by showing wonderful desire to force his way past a couple of challenges and advance on goal in the 55th minute. It was fine, determined play from the midfielder, who had moved into a deeper role following Palmer’s introduction, and he capped it off by driving a low shot last Diant Ramaj.
Soothed by a two-goal cushion, Chelsea felt the pressure lifting. Palmer was on a mission to end his goal drought. He jinked past a defender before bending a shot just wide. Neto also tested Ramaj from 20 yards.
Although Rodrigo Huescas wasted a late chance for Copenhagen, Chelsea were comfortable in the end. Filip Jörgensen had a quiet evening in goal. The problem is it was just as sedate in the stands.
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