ANALYSE – An imperial Thiago Silva, Milan’s defensive largesse and Fofana’s injury… The tops and flops of Chelsea-AC Milan (3-0)
TOPS :
Thiago Silva, imperial against his former club
What a match from Thiago Silva. The former Milanese (2009-2012) made a neat copy this Wednesday evening. Very valuable in aerial duels, intelligent in anticipation and serene in recovery, the Brazilian defender has shown that he is still essential despite his 38 years. It is even he who is at the origin of the opening of the score of the Blues (24th) after having placed a header on a corner, pushed back on Fofana, the striker.
The Discipline of the Blues
Like his evening captain, the whole Chelsea team seemed involved in this meeting. First of all defensively with Koulibaly, very concentrated defensively. Reece James, very restless on his right side, did not hesitate to multiply the defensive and offensive efforts for his team. In the last half hour, with the Blues leading 3-0, Graham Potter’s men managed the game perfectly to get this first victory and this cleen-sheet.
FLOPS :
Fofana’s injury
This is not good news for the Blues defender. A few months before the World Cup, which he still hopes to play, the French injured his knee following a duel with Leao (38th). He was forced out prematurely, on the verge of tears. The only positive image, Wesley Fofana was able to walk out alone. Perhaps more fear than harm.
SEE ALSO – Wesley Fofana’s first goal with AS Saint-Etienne
Milan’s mistakes
Certainly, the Italians were not helped by the cascade of injuries (Maignan, Hernandez, Calabria, Kjaer, Messias, Saelemaekers …), but they made the task easier than expected at Chelsea. The Blues took advantage of Milan’s defensive largesse, first on the first goal, where Thiago Silva found himself alone on three consecutive corners, the last leading to the goal of Fofana (24th). On returning from the locker room, Reece James has plenty of time to drop a cross into the area towards Aubameyang, yet covered by Tomori, who completely misses his defensive intervention and allows the Gabonese to score the break goal (56th).
Giroud like his team
Difficult to point the finger at a particular player on the side of Milan. But it is clear, like his teammates, that Olivier Giroud did not weigh on the meeting. With only 20 balls hit, including 7 lost, the French striker failed to prove decisive against his former club (2018-2021).