Lagos, Nigeria – As the new Premier League season kicked off yesterday, Chelsea‘s fans were more expectant than a pot of jollof rice on a Sunday. But alas, their beloved team managed to deliver a dish that was as bland as unsalted rice, sharing the spoils in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace.
In the first half, Chelsea was sitting pretty on their bench, discussing when last they could remember scoring against Palace, but the real drama unfolded when Eberechi Eze stepped up for a free-kick that sent hearts racing. Omo, the ball hit the net like an agbada hitting the floor, but alas, the goal was disallowed for an infringement by Marc Guehi. Talk about a cruel twist of fate! (I hope he cooked his last meal because he will be haunted by that moment!)
Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, had to be holding back his frustration, with injury problems and a lack of sharpness evident on the pitch. Player ratings from the Chelsea Chronicle showed no one really shone like a superstar in this opening act. Robert Sanchez? A solid 6/10; he didn’t let much past him but did he make any significant saves? Hmm…
Reece James, the captain, was up against Eze for most of the game and you could tell he was struggling to keep up. His yellow card in the first half meant fans were praying he wouldn’t push his luck and end up in the changing room too early. Replacement? More like desperate measures!
Then came the moment that raised some eyebrows: Josh Acheampong, just thrown into the mix and yet he received an impressive rating of 8/10. You could just hear the fans asking why this young fella wasn’t starting over some experienced players. Was Maresca trying to set a trend? Is he going to win the ‘Most Bold Coach’ award?
Next up, Moises Caicedo was solid as ever, strutting around the field like he owned the place, scoring a 7/10. But let’s talk about Enzo Fernandez… oh boo! A poor 4/10. He looked like he just woke up from a long nap, sluggish and disinterested. Fans were probably left screaming ‘where is the Enzo we paid for?!’
On the wing at the other side, Pedro Neto was also below par. So disappointing! It looked like someone just switched off his electricity. What’s the point of having a speedy player if he can’t even make a proper pass? And Jamie Gittens, dear oh dear! The debut he never wanted… could he even trace a good cross? More like tracing paper!
It was Estevao Willian who brought a glimmer of brightness as soon as he stepped onto the field, winning a respectable 7/10. His first touch almost led to a goal, and fans were muttering to themselves, “This kid might just be our secret weapon.” And don’t forget Liam Delap, who hardly had time to break bread before he had to run back down the tunnel.
All in all, Chelsea fans left the stadium grumbling more than a Lagos traffic jam. They have their eyes on the next game, hoping the blues will shake off this underwhelming start and bring back the spark that has been all too rare lately. After all, it’s only a marathon, not a sprint… but oh boy, they need to start jogging before they find themselves at the back of the pack!
