Thursday, September 28, 2017

Athletico Madrid 2-1



Telegraph:

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Eden Hazard steals the show to ruin Wanda Metropolitano's opening night

Jason Burt

The deliciousness; the absolute lip-smacking delight of this for Chelsea who not only dominated and defeated one of Europe’s big beasts on their own turf but did so with goals from Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi. With Diego Costa in the stands, having completed his acrimonious return to  Atlético  Madrid after going on strike at Chelsea, it was the man who was signed to replace him and the man deemed not good enough to replace him who won it for Antonio Conte’s side.

It is only what Uefa term match day two of the Champions League but this is the kind of result that reverberates around Europe. The kind of result that shows, after a season’s absence from this competition, that Chelsea are back. That Conte is back. And that Chelsea can come back because they turned this around from a goal deficit against a team who do not surrender such advantages.

In fact it is hard to recall when before Chelsea have commanded a game so comprehensively away from home against one of Europe’s big clubs, a club who have reached two of the last four Champions League finals. Chelsea did not do it even when they won the Champions League in 2012 while it is simply a given that  Atlético  do not lose at home (this is only their second loss in 24 Champions League games and it feels more formidable than that). It was also the first time that  Atlético  have ever lost at home to an English club.

Diego Simeone’s side are in a new stadium, of course, having left the crumbling, chaotic but charismatic power of the Vicente Calderon after 51 years to move to the imposing grandeur of the Estadio Metropolitano but they have taken their daunting atmosphere with them and had won their previous two games here without conceding a goal. It did not feel like the new stadium was a factor.

But Chelsea were. From the moment the team-sheets were delivered and Cesc Fabregas was included it appeared Conte had arrived with intent. There was also a superb performance from Eden Hazard, who needs to light up this competition, and who was playing his first Champions League tie since Chelsea lost in the last-16 to Paris Saint-Germain in March 2016.

And there was Morata. The 24-year-old is not only Chelsea’s record signing – and the man who previously held that record also eventually took the pitch when Atlético brought on Fernando Torres – but is also a former Real Madrid striker. His name led to a chorus of whistles when it was read out pre-match and those whistles were even louder and angrier when he was substituted late on. They would have been music to the Madridista’s ears as Costa watched on. The King (Kong) is dead. Long live the Prince.

Morata scored his seventh goal in seven games for Chelsea to draw them level after David Luiz had foolishly conceded a penalty when he grabbed hold – and would not let go – of Lucas Hernández’s shirt at a corner. He was booked and Antoine Griezmann, who otherwise was disappointing, thumped the penalty past Thibaut Courtois. That was just before half-time and it could have been quickly followed by ‘game-over’ as Courtois beat out Koke’s powerful low shot with Saùl Niguez then firing the rebound wide when surely a player of his calibre had to score.

But it was rough enough on Chelsea who also felt they should have had a penalty when Marcos Alonso was man-handled by Juanfran. They had dominated, they had come close with Jan Oblak tipping over Morata’s header and were unfortunate when Hazard’s quick feet creates space 25 yards out only for his shot to take a slight deflection and thump back off the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

Chelsea continued to show courage and continued to dominate and they got their reward when Luiz picked out Hazard who, out on the left, swung the ball in for Morata to deftly glance his header across Oblak and into the net. Atlético  were rocking and Chelsea should have scored again when Hazard tidied up a goalmouth scramble to square to Fabregas who could not move his feet quickly enough and scuffed his shot wide.

Simeone sensed his side had to try and win this but it was Morata who again went close as he brilliantly out-stripped Hernández on a counter-attack only to stab his right foot shot across goal and wide. There was pressure from Atlético and they maybe could have had another penalty when Tiemoue Bakayoko appeared to trip Torres.

Then deep into injury-time Chelsea won a free-kick and worked the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, patiently looking for an opening, until Alonso crossed low and Batshuayi side-footed home from close-range. It was the last kick of the match and even the Atlético  hardcore were stunned into silence.

“We want to see where we are,” Conte had said in the build-up and it was a game which is usually the preserve of March or onwards when the Champions League becomes serious and only the serious players with serious aspirations are left. For Chelsea that was almost as important as the points as they took control of Group C.

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Guardian:

Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi pops up late to seal win at Atlético Madrid

Atlético 1 - 2 Chelsea

Sid Lowe

“This is the right moment to understand where we are,” Antonio Conte had said on the eve of this game, and the answer he got delighted him. Time was up, the clock heading past 93 minutes, when Chelsea produced a wonderful move to clinch a dramatic, and deserved, victory over Atlético Madrid with the last kick of the game.

At the end Conte saluted fans high in the north stand, his fists clenched. Up in the directors’ box behind him, Diego Costa watched on and sighed. His former team had beaten his new one, becoming the first away side to win at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Conte might have reflected that it should not have taken so long to find a way through, but they got there in the end and when the goal came it was gorgeous. Marcos Alonso, N’Golo Kanté, Tiémoué Bakayoko, and Alonso again made it, the passing crisp and first time in and around the Atlético area until the goal was at their mercy. The man who finally slipped in the knife was Michy Batshuayi. He had come on a few minutes earlier, with Willian. The change had been a surprise yet, ultimately, the victory was not. The winner came from Chelsea’s 18th shot.

Chelsea are top of their group but more importantly, they impressed against a side who have reached two finals in four years. There will be optimism about a first start together for Eden Hazard and Álvaro Morata, who look like forming a promising partnership and who combined to make the equaliser on the hour after Chelsea had fallen behind to an Antoine Griezmann penalty just before half-time. And then, right at the end, Chelsea got the winner. If this is a process, as Conte said, it is progressing.

That the winner came without Hazard and Morata on the pitch speaks to a certain strength in depth and the manager’s reading of the game. If it may speak too of good fortune, the way it came had little to do with fortune; this was football. Not just in this move, but throughout. Kanté played on the front foot. Victor Moses ran at Filipe Luís. And César Azpilicueta sought Alonso on the other side. Then there was Morata and especially Hazard, occupying the space between Atlético’s back four and their midfield four.

Not just occupying that space; enjoying it. This was only Hazard’s second start of the season and the enthusiasm was clear. Quick, willing to run, free, his feet fast, he was superb. Morata also impressed, receiving back to goal, opening the pitch out or running beyond defenders. The chances were Chelsea’s, most of the control was too. Morata, Hazard and Morata again all had efforts inside seven minutes. By the 25th minute the shot count read 1-6. The last of those saw Morata’s header tipped over. A moment later, Kanté found Hazard, who snatched at his effort.

Atlético were under pressure but they did emerge to create an opportunity on the right, Gary Cahill alert to Griezmann’s run. Then, with two sharp, incisive passes Atlético found their way through, the pitch opening before them and leading them to the opening goal.

Filipe Luís found Saúl Ñíguez who found Yannick Carrasco and he exchanged passes with Ángel Correa. The shot was blocked for a corner, which Koke curled towards the near post. As Thibaut Courtois scrambled to push it away, Lucas Hernández tumbled. Most here had not seen what happened but the referee had. David Luiz had grabbed imprudently at Hernández’s shirt. From the spot, Griezmann gave Atlético the lead.

This was what Conte had warned them of before the match, but Chelsea could barely believe it – and they were relieved to avoid a swift second two minutes later when Koke’s shot was saved by Courtois and Saúl followed up but shot wide.

Chelsea would not be denied, though, and the manner of the equaliser was fitting: Hazard made it with a neat inswinging ball and Morata, who was in Atlético’s system until the age of 15 and was whistled for his Real Madrid past, headed past Jan Oblak. Off he set to the touchline where he embraced Conte and team-mates piled on. They deserved the goal and should have added to it when Morata and Hazard scrambled the ball into the path of Cesc Fàbregas. Stretching, from six yards, he skewed wide. Hazard lifted Fàbregas from the turf, head in his hands.

There were more laments but they did not last for ever. Hazard set Morata away from deep inside his half. He and Hernández raced, side by side. The Chelsea striker held Hernández off and reached the area first, nudging the ball past Oblak – and just past a post.

With eight minutes remaining and perhaps an eye on Manchester City on Saturday, Conte removed the men who had most damaged Atlético. Hazard departed and so did Morata, whistled as he went. Their work here was done. Willian and Batshuayi came on with work still to do.

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Mail:

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea: Michy Batshuayi scores dramatic winner with last kick of game after Alvaro Morata cancelled out Antoine Griezmann's opener

By Martin Samuel

Michy Batshuayi planted the ball in the net and the next thing anyone in the Wanda Metropolitano stadium knew, the Atletico Madrid club anthem was emerging through the speakers and it was time to go home.

Yes, that late. Yes, that much of a killer. This was a huge victory for Chelsea, a milestone for English football, too. No English club had won away to Atletico Madrid, and their coach Diego Simeone had been unbeaten by the English.

Chelsea also became the first visiting club to score at Madrid's new home, and therefore also the first to win. All things considered, then, group stage or not, this was a greatly impressive three points, all the more so for coming from behind, and most of all for being thoroughly deserved.

Chelsea were the better team and could have had the game done before half-time had Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata taken several chances. They could be a force in the Champions League this season, too. Even the 6-0 cakewalk against Qarabag has been put into perspective by Roma's slender 2-1 win in Azerbaijan.

Watching from the stand, meanwhile, Diego Costa would have been only too aware of the changing of the guard. He may have got the move his heart desired but, professionally, it is no upgrade. He has left the stronger team of the two and Chelsea have moved swiftly on without him.

Not only is Morata an outstanding replacement, but Batshuayi is developing into quite the understudy — a scorer of vital goals, like the one that clinched the title against West Bromwich last season.

His winner here looked simple enough, but wasn't, Chelsea still applying late pressure four minutes into injury time after David Luiz was fouled, and finally getting the breakthrough from a low cross by Marcos Alonso.

Batshuayi turned it home from inside the six-yard box and in an instant the final credits were rolling. At first it seemed the Atletico anthem was a forlorn attempt at a rallying cry, then as the players began shaking hands it became apparent it was all over. Batshuayi had truly delivered the last kick of the game, and Atletico were feeling the soft spot where it landed.

As for the man Batshuayi replaced after 82 minutes in Chelsea's front line, what more can be said? Low maintenance, but high scoring. If only all strikers were crafted as efficiently as Morata.

He alone might not have delivered the win, but he scored the first away goal here and played a huge part in victory over one of European football's toughest opponents. Atletico may have to wait on Costa's first appearance in January, but they are not short of class in his absence.

Davis Luiz let his Chelsea team-mates down with a lazy piece of defending to concede a penalty in a match which Chelsea were dominating.

Luiz was caught flat-footed and clearly held Lucas Hernandez (ringed, left) by the shirt at an Atletico corner and was rightly punished when Cuneyt Cakir pointed to the spot.

Chelsea had not looked like conceding until that point and despite last night's win Luiz will be hoping his sloppy defending doesn't cost the Blues in future.

He was back in black in the stand, genial now he has got his way, and his former team-mates showed there were no hard feelings when their paths crossed in the tunnel.

On the pitch, meanwhile, Morata continues to demonstrate why Costa may not be as missed as many imagine. This was his seventh goal in as many games for Chelsea this season, another one showcasing his impressive aerial ability. What a weapon he is when given good service.

It was perfect for him here — a quite lovely cross from the outstanding Hazard, directed past goalkeeper Jan Oblak with delightful ease.

That is Morata's talent, making it look easy when plainly it is not. Costa, it has to be said, was rarely this understated. Everything was aggro, everything was conflict.

Morata merely ran off to celebrate his equalising goal with Chelsea's bench, leading a procession of team-mates, only too happy to now present a united front.

In one game he now has 50 per cent of Costa's Champions League total for Chelsea — he scored just two goals in 15 matches. Batshuayi's goal was his second for Chelsea in Europe, equalling Costa's total.

The goal will have meant a little more to Morata, too, having suffered a barrage of jeers and whistles throughout, his punishment for being a former Real Madrid man.

The barracking when he was substituted with eight minutes to go was one of the loudest noises the home crowd generated all night. If only they knew what his replacement would get up to they would have cheered for him to stay on.

So justice was done. Chelsea dominated the bulk of the first half, enjoying a sustained 20 minutes of pressure as impressive as any spell enjoyed by an English side against elite opposition in this competition in years.

Yet, somehow, they went in at half-time behind by a goal, and it could have been two had Atletico not squandered the last chance of the half.

The blame for this deficit had to go to Luiz. Hailed as the man who made Conte's Chelsea click a year ago, his start to the 2017-18 season could not have been more different. He has been sent off for a rash tackle and here was another costly moment of madness, turning the game on its head in the 39th minute.

Chelsea were in control until that point. It had taken Atletico until the 37th minute to mount a threat to goal, when a deflected shot earned a corner and as the ball came in Luiz needlessly manhandled Lucas Hernandez to the floor, tugging at his shirt in a most obvious fashion. Referee Cuneyt Cakir brandished a yellow card for Luiz and signalled the penalty Atletico's play — if not Luiz's lunacy — scarcely deserved.

Antoine Griezmann took it, old school, a powerful shot past Thibaut Courtois, who spent three years on loan here and is still a crowd favourite. He nearly did them a favour, too, his parry from a shot by Koke with seconds to go before half-time only pushing the ball out to Saul Niguez, whose low shot was fierce, but narrowly wide.

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Lucas, Filipe Luis; Koke, Thomas (Gimenez 77), Saul, Carrasco (Torres, 69); Correa (Gaitan 70), Griezmann

Subs not used: Moya, Savic, Gabi, Vietto

Goals: Griezmann 41

Yellow cards: Thomas 47, Griezmann 54

Chelsea (3-5-1-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Bakayoko, Kane, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard (Willian, 82); Morata (Batshuayi 82)

Subs not used: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Zappacosta, Pedro

Goals: Morata 60, Batshuayi 90

Yellow cards: David Luiz 40

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir

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Independent:

Michy Batshuayi's last-gasp winner seals Chelsea memorable Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Blues fight back from Antoine Griezmann's first-half penalty, first through Alvaro Morata and then with Batshuayi at the death

Ed Malyon

Michy Batshuaryi’s last-gasp winner sealed Chelsea a memorable win over Atletico Madrid and ensured the advantage is now theirs in what amounts to effectively a three-team group.

Qarabag, who Chelsea comprehensively put away in their opener and Roma beat earlier on Wednesday evening, are not expected to make a dent in Group C but the Italians, Chelsea and Atleti will battle tooth and nail for those two precious spots in the last 16. The Blues had looked happy with a point, and well they might have been against one of Europe’s best sides and, significantly, likely its finest defence.

For all the quality in the Premier League, no side on English soil has a backline as unforgiving and impenetrable as Atletico and Alvaro Morata’s equaliser, headed of course, had the sneaky feeling of one that might have proved vital in December when this three is narrowed to two.

But Michy Batshuayi, a late substitute and a man developing a knack of scoring important goals, stabbed home Andreas Christensen’s drilled cross with the last kick of the game to cap a memorable comeback after an engrossing European premiere for Atletico’s new stadium, the Metropolitano Wanda.

Perhaps predictably this was a game that had started with backlines dominating and midfields focused more on destruction than creativity.

The danger with a meeting of two such strong sides in the early stages of the Champions League is that both are more naturally inclined to play conservatively. With Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte, two immensely talented coaches but ones who prioritise tight defence, that danger is somewhat multiplied and most of the first half had been cagey with both sides relying on their magic men to provide a spark.

Eden Hazard had looked the most likely player to do so from either team, a neat backheel setting up Alvaro Morata for a half-chance that he drove beyond the far post in his second opportunity of the opening 20 minutes.

But that was about it from Chelsea whereas Atleti grew in confidence, though still unwilling to risk overcommittal. It was going to take a spark or an error and in the end it would be the latter as David Luiz was caught flat-footed at an Atletico corner and couldn’t resist grabbing Lucas Hernandez. With the Frenchman about to beat him to the near post, a healthy fistful of shirt caused Hernandez to go to ground and the penalty was given.

While the subsequent yellow card had the feel of a referee trying to justify their decision, replays suggest Cuneyt Cakir got it right. By the time Chelsea had stopped complaining, Antoine Griezmann had already fired home to hand the hosts a lead.

With the Wanda Metropolitano now rocking, Atleti were emboldened and Chelsea, rather than being fired up by injustice, were more like moping teenagers. Standing aside as Koke drove through midfield minutes later, they were caught out by his fizzing drive that stung the palms of the diving Thibaut Courtois.

Saul’s technique was good enough that he hit the rebound first-time, and his side-footed effort was clean but the direction was slightly, agonisingly off and the ball whistled by the post as referee Cakir whistled for half-time.

Chelsea had started the first half as slightly the more dangerous team and they did so again in the second. They come up against quality opposition in the Premier League but rarely teams of this calibre, particularly defensively, and outside Morata and Hazard nobody seemed to have an idea of how one might break down a wall like that.

Fortunately for Chelsea, they didn’t need anyone else.

With Hazard increasingly strangled for space in the middle, he drifted out wide and was found by a crossfield ball by David Luiz. Such a raking pass gave Hazard the extra half-second he needed to make the difference and his deliciously-whipped cross was glanced home by Alvaro Morata.

The Atleti fan was playing his seventh game against his boyhood club for his third different team but had always been frustrated, but his first goal set his newest team on course for a memorable comeback. A second goal, when sent through one-on-one, would have buried the club of his heart but instead his head was in his hands as for the third time on the night he rolled a finish past Jan Oblak but also the far post.

Replaced with thoughts of what could have been, Morata left the field wondering if he had cost his side three valuable points and shook hands with Michy Batshuayi.

And incredibly it was the Belgian, the man whose goal won Conte the league, who stabbed home from close range to hand Chelsea what might become a famous win, but what will likely prove an important one when this group is settled.


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Express:

Atletico Madrid 1 - Chelsea 2: Michy Batshuayi scores with last kick of the game to win it

ANTONIO CONTE delivered another lesson in his litany of tactical masterclasses in Madrid as Chelsea pulled off one of their greatest European results.

By TONY BANKS IN MADRID

Up against the might of Atletico in their own new backyard, Chelsea produced a performance of remarkable bravery and skill as they fought back from potential disaster to grab a totally deserved win.

Michy Batshuayi’s goal in injury time at the Wanda Metropolitano will go down in Chelsea folklore after an astonishing match.

But Conte’s immaculately prepared team to a man delivered – as they fought back from potential Champions League catastrophe.

Defeat loomed when David Luiz gave away a stupid penalty on the stroke of half time after a 45 minutes they had utterly dominated to enable Antoine Griezmann to score.

Luiz, playing with a broken wrist after being sent off against Arsenal, had had an immaculate game but once again in his career, a moment of lunacy let the Brazilian down.

Chelsea refused to be denied, as the excellent Eden Hazard set up Alvaro Morata for his seventh goal in seven games with a delicious header – and then Batshuayi silenced the cacophony with virtually the last kick of the game.

The task ahead of Chelsea had been formidable.

Atletico had reached two out of the last four finals, each time losing to their bitter rivals Real. Last year they were semi-finallists.

Simeone’s team had never lost at home to English opposition in Uefa competition before last night.

They had lost just one of their last 22 Champions League home matches, while Chelsea had won only three of their last 12 European away games.

The teams last met in the semi-finals in 2013-14. Chelsea gained a creditable draw at the infamous old Vicente Calderon cauldron, but were beaten 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa scored a penalty for Atletico that night. Last night, having secured his £67 million return to his first love from Chelsea only this week, the Spaniard was there greeting his old teammates warmly in the tunnel.

In their new spectacular £210 million home, Atletico had played twice and won twice, without conceding a goal. After 18 months without the Champions League for Chelsea, barring that straightforward opener against Qarabag, last night it felt like the real thing again.

Conte’s masterstroke was deciding to play Hazard, starting a game for the first time this season, behind Morata.

As expected, Atletico were straight onto the attack but Hazard then beat his man and fed Morata, who screwed his shot wide of the far post. Then Hazard hit the side netting, and as the pair linked up again, again Morata dragged his shot wide.

There was more to come. Then Hazard let fly from 25 yards as Morata laid the ball off and his drive came back off the post with goalkeeper Jan Oblak helpless.

Chelsea were by far the better team and when Luiz floated a long ball into space, Morata climbed, and Oblak had to turn his header over the bar.

But then all Chelsea’s hard work looked to have been undone.

Koke floated in a corner, Luiz grabbed Lucas’s shirt in the melee at the near post and Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir gave the spot kick to the English’s team’s consternation. Up stepped Griezmann to ram home the penalty and Atletico, with virtually their first shot on target, were ahead totally against the run of play.

At that point, things looked ominous. Atletico had the bit between their teeth, and Saul Niguez should have made it two but somehow shot wide after Thibaut Courtois pushed out Koke’s shot.

Despite the setback, Chelsea still looked in control with Hazard linking up well with Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko tireless in midfield.

And then on the hour the partnership finally worked. Hazard jinked, cut inside on the left from Bakayoko’s pass and crossed, and there was Morata to glance a lovely header beyond Oblak for his seventh goal in seven games.

A minute later, Chelsea should have been ahead, as the unstoppable Hazard poked a pass square to Fabregas six yards out but the Spaniard incredibly put the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

On came Fernando Torres for Atletico as Simeone tried to wrest control of the game for his team, but it was Morata who could have won it for Chelsea, shooting just wide when clean through.

But no matter. Chelsea went forward as the minutes ticked away, full-back Marcos Alonso crossed from the right and there was substitute Batshuayi to sidefoot in a famous goal.



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Sun:


BAT OUT OF HELLAtletico 1 Chelsea 2: Michy Batshuayi strikes in the dying seconds as he and Alvaro Morata leave Diego Costa distraught after stunning comeback

The Belgian striker scores winner with the last kick of the game to seal Champions League victory as Blues become first English side to win at Atletico

By Gary Stonehouse


MICHY BATSHUAYI scored in the dying seconds to secure a thrilling Champions League comeback for Chelsea and ruin the watching Diego Costa's night at Atletico Madrid.

Costa, who officially rejoined Atletico this week from the Premier League champions, was in the stands to watch his new and old employers lock horns – but he was left slumped and distraught by the Belgian’s late winner.

Chelsea will have felt unfortunate to have found themselves behind at the break after largely dominating against the Spanish side.

Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata, the latter returning to the capital for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in the summer, twice went close.

But when the opener did arrive it was an absolute gift from Blues defender David Luiz.

The Brazilian had been excellent for most of the half but a moment of madness cost his side dear in the dying moments.

He locked arms with an opposition attacker, and even though a similar challenge earlier had gone unpunished, this time the referee pointed to the spot.

And Antoine Griezmann kept his cool to slot confidently right down the middle.

However, Chelsea refused to roll over and it was not long until they found a way back – and boy did Morata enjoy silencing his haters.

Hazard bent in a cross on the hour mark from the left and the ex-Real Madrid star met it with his head and flicked home to level.

After being hammered all evening by the Atletico supporters he milked his celebration too as he sprinted down the sidelines to embrace his boss Antonio Conte.

It could have got even better for Chelsea just seconds later when the ball fell to Cesc Fabregas just a few yards out – but the midfielder could only direct his close-range effort agonisingly wide.

And Morata came close to stealing the points late on after breaking away from Lucas Hernandez to go clean through. But goalkeeper Jan Oblak came racing out to meet him and the forward poked his effort wide off the post too.

But with the very last kick of the game, substitute Batshuayi grabbed the headlines and the points as he slammed home Marcos Alonso’s cross to seal a first-ever win for an English club at Atletico.

What they said

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte blasted Premier League bosses for having so little time to prepare for the game against Man City on Saturday.

He said: "I think we are a bit penalised. To have only one day to prepare for this type of game is not right.

"Honestly I'm very surprised to see that this big game we have to play on Saturday, not on Sunday. I don't understand why."

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone said: "The opponent was the better team, they were the more comfortable team in all moments and deserved to win."

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Star:

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Batshuayi scores last-gasp Champions League winner

A WONDER goal at the Wanda Metropolitano gave Chelsea a sensational victory.

By Scott Coleman

Before last night, Diego Simeone’s team had never lost at home to English opposition in Europe.

After their straightforward Champions League group opener against Qarabag two weeks ago, last night felt like the real thing again.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, in a surprise move, opted to play Cesc Fabregas alongside Eden Hazard, behind striker Alvaro Morata, with Gary Cahill returning to defence.

Fernando Torres, who once led Chelsea’s attack, was on Atletico’s bench.

Diego Costa, having secured his £67m return to Atletico this week, watched from the stands after warmly meeting his former Chelsea team-mates in the tunnel. Atletico were straight onto the attack but Hazard beat his man and fed Morata, who screwed his shot wide of the far post.


Then Hazard jinked inside and hit the side netting, and as the pair linked up again, Morata dragged his shot wide. It was a promising start.

Hazard let fly from 25 yards as Morata laid the ball off and his drive came back off the post with goalkeeper Jan Oblak helpless.

Chelsea were lively and almost broke through again. This time David Luiz floated a long ball into space, Morata climbed, and Oblak had to turn his header over the bar.

Another neat move saw Hazard, who was causing Atletico constant problems as he dropped deep and then ran at the defence, shot straight at the goalkeeper.

But all Chelsea’s hard work was undone when Koke floated in a corner and Luiz grabbed Lucas’s shirt in the melee at the near post.

Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir gave the spot kick, much to the English’s team’s dismay, but it looked like another moment of madness from the Brazilian.

Up stepped Antoine Griezmann to ram home the penalty and Atletico, with virtually their first shot on target, were ahead totally against the run of play.

Chelsea piled forward in search of the equaliser.

Marcos Alonso’s shot was defected wide with Oblak rooted to the spot, and Cahill shot’s was deflected over.

But Atletico had the bit between their teeth, and Saul Niguez should have made it two but somehow shot wide after Thibaut Courtois pushed Koke’s shot out into his path.

Despite the setback, Chelsea still looked in control after the break with Hazard linking up well with Morata, and Tiemoue Bakayoko tireless in midfield.Victor Moses drilled a shot wide from another Hazard pass, and at that stage, if another goal was going to come in the cacophony of noise, it looked like it would be Chelsea who scored it.

And then on the hour, the link-up finally worked.

Hazard jinked, cut inside on the left from Bakayoko’s pass and crossed, and there was Morata to glance a lovely header beyond Oblak for his seventh goal in seven games.

A minute later, Chelsea should have been ahead, as the unstoppable Hazard poked a pass square to Fabregas six yards out. But the Spaniard incredibly poked the ball wide when it looked easier to score.

On came Torres for Atletico as Simeone tried to wrest control of the game for his team.

But it was Morata who may have won it for Chelsea, poking his shot just wide when clean through.

With the game virtually done, Chelsea went once more for goal, pinging the ball around the box and when Alonso drilled the ball across, late substitute Batshuayi had the final say.


ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Lucas, Filipe Luis; Koke, Partey, Niguez, Carrasco; Correa, Griezmann. Subs: Moya, Torres, Gabi, Savic, Vietto, Gaitan, Gimenez.

CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Fabregas, Hazard; Morata. Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Pedro, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Christensen.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)



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Mirror:


Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea - Michy Batshuayi earns three points with last kick of the game

Diegos Simeone and Costa were left heartbroken by the Belgian's winner


BYRIK SHARMA


Michy Batshuayi stunned Atletico Madrid with a last-gasp winner to earn Chelsea a second Champions League win of the season.

The Belgian ghosted into the box and side-footed home to leave Diego Simeone heartbroken.


Chelsea started well with Morata firing wide twice and the lively Eden Hazard crashing a superb effort off the post from long-range.

But it was Atletico who took the lead when David Luiz pulled Lucas Hernandez’s shirt at a corner, with Antoine Griezmann firing home from the penalty spot in the 40th minute.

Saul Niguez should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time but fired wide with the goal gaping.

Morata headed home the equaliser from Hazard’s superb cross in the 60th minute as Chelsea started the second period as strongly, but it looked to be heading for a draw until Batshuayi struck.


1. Morata shows big-game qualifications

Alvaro Morata was decisive for Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid in 2015, but after returning to the Santiago Bernabeu, he played a bit-part role.

The striker didn’t have much of an impact in crucial games for Madrid, instead preying on the lower lights in Spain, and his first big matches for Chelsea weren’t much better.

Morata didn’t score against Tottenham or Arsenal, and was especially disappointing in the latter, failing to get involved in the game.

However against Atletico he showed he was not just a bully, with his class on the ball helping Chelsea dominate in the first half.

Morata fired a couple of early efforts wide and saw a good header saved by Jan Oblak, but his finest contributions came in his hold up play.

The Spaniard, who was fiercely whistled and jeered by Atletico fans for his Madrid past, teed up Hazard, who hit the post, and was the glue that held many of Chelsea’s attacking moves together.

Eventually his goal came, heading home Eden Hazard’s cross superbly to put Chelsea level, before celebrating wildly with coach Antonio Conte—with Diego Costa watching on.


2. Chelsea given proper Champions League welcome


The Blues made their Champions League return against Qarabag, but the 6-0 win at Stamford Bridge was a ‘soft launch’ for their campaign.

Nights like these are what make the Champions League, for better and for worse.

Marcos Alonso was tugged in the area and a penalty was not given, but when David Luiz did the same in Chelsea’s box on Lucas Hernandez, referee Cuneyt Cakir pointed to the spot.

Atletico’s fans were raucous and filled their new stadium with noise, while Chelsea fans, tucked away at the top of the north stand, responded in kind.

Atletico’s players went down easily and often, with Chelsea reminded how matches like these need to be played—Cesc Fabregas showed nous in his frequent words to the referee to help his side get some more decisions.

While Manchester United were running riot in Moscow against Europa League opponents, this was the sort of game you expect to see in the semi-final stage of this competition.

An early test like this will likely help Chelsea to get their eye in. If there were any doubts over whether the English champions are contenders on their return to the competition, this should help dispel them.


3. Clever in-game management


Chelsea were on top and creating several dangerous opportunities against a struggling Atletico before Diego Simeone decided something had to change.

The Argentine coach had lined up with a 4-4-2 but, seeing his side overrun in central midfield, tinkered and switched to a 4-3-3.

That pushed Angel Correa wide right and Yannick Carrasco wide left, looking to get in behind Chelsea’s advanced full-backs, and allowed Saul and Koke to try and shut down Hazard, who had been a constant thorn in the hosts’ side.

Atletico reaped almost instant dividends when Griezmann opened the scoring and Saul fired wide when he should have grabbed the second before half-time.

It led to a more even game, but Chelsea’s Antonio Conte responded to changing Fabregas’ position on the field to suit the team’s needs.

When Chelsea were chasing a goal he utilised the Spaniard as a quarter-back, behind Bakayoko and Kante, having started with the former as the deepest lying player.

Then, having got what he sought, he swapped them back, to keep the side tough for Atletico to break down.


4. Correa shows why Atletico need Costa


Angel Correa impressed individually against Chelsea, giving Marcos Alonso a difficult night, but he found it hard to link-up with his team-mates.

The Argentine forward is making a good fist of being Antoine Griezmann’s partner this season, but his limitations show in matches as big as these.

Diego Simeone’s preferred foil for Griezmann was in the stadium, watching on, but ineligible for selection.

Diego Costa will return to action in January and Atletico have to get him as fit as possible before then, after completing the striker’s signing from Chelsea.

Atletico could have used the Brazilian-born forward’s unique skill-set to cause Chelsea more problems at the back and buy the isolated Griezmann more room.


5. Hazard wins battle against Griezmann


Although they weren’t facing up to each other on the pitch, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann will likely one day be direct rivals.

The pair are among the elite band of players who have the potential to take world football’s crown after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo vacate the throne.

Although Griezmann struck from the penalty spot in the first half, scoring his third goal in three games at the club’s new stadium, it was Chelsea’s flying Belgian who dominated here.


Hazard carved out early chances for Morata, struck the post himself and eventually set-up Chelsea’s equaliser with a superb cross.

Considering the hostile atmosphere and the fact this was his first start for Chelsea bar a Carabao Cup appearance, Hazard put in a quite remarkable shift.

Hazard was the most dangerous player on the pitch and Conte eventually reluctantly withdrew him inside the final 10 minutes, so as not to push him too far too soon.


Sunday, September 24, 2017

Stoke City 4-0



Mail:

Stoke City 0-4 Chelsea: Alvaro Morata scores sublime hat-trick to help champions ease past Potters

By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sunday

In the time it's taken Diego Costa to fly to Madrid and sign for Atletico, Chelsea fans have forgotten all about him. Replacement Alvaro Morata bagged a splendid hat-trick and was serenaded by the club's noisy travelling support.

They sang: 'He comes from sunny Spain, he's better than Harry Kane', rather than the unsavoury chant from earlier in the season.

Morata was brilliant from start to finish, scoring his opening goal after only 83 seconds and mantaining his levels so he could poach numbers two and three towards the end.

Though Stoke were seriously disrupted by injuries, there was no doubting the former Real Madrid star's quality, different to the way Costa bullied the same opposition in March, but just as masterful.

With Pedro also on the score sheet, Chelsea were able to comfortably keep their 100 per cent away record and show this season's title race might not be a two-horse affair between the Manchester clubs.

A lot has been made of the strength in depth available to Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho but Chelsea's bench at the Bet365 Stadium included Gary Cahill, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard – not to shabby.

'Alvaro did very well. He scored a hat-trick just like Michy Batshuayi did in midweek, it's very important for a striker. I am pleased about his performance but also the team as it shows they are creating chances,' said winning manager Antonio Conte.

'It's always a difficult game at Stoke. We struggled to win 2-1 last season with a late goal. The key this time was to start well and score early. Then we were in control of the game. Morata was very good. Now he has to continue this way to be a great striker.'

Stoke's line-up looked vulnerable with injuries to Kevin Wimmer, Geoff Cameron and Ryan Shawcross leaving Bruno Martins Indi as the only available centre-half, with loanee Kurt Zouma ineligible to face his parent club.

They sent out a three-man central defence with two full-backs, and two attack-minded wingers as wing-backs and the disjointed look saw them fall behind in only the second minute.

Cesar Azpilicueta pinged a long ball and Morata found acres of space between Glen Johnson and Martins Indi though his finish, one touch to control and a second low past Jack Butland, was world-class.

Chelsea's second arrived after 30 minutes courtesy of Stoke captain and their most experienced player, Darren Fletcher.

The 33-year-old midfielder attempted a chest pass to Martins Indi just outside his box but played the ball into the path of Pedro who finished brilliantly from 18 yards. Fletcher knew he'd cost his team, screaming out an expletive at the top of his voice as the ball hit the back of the net.

Stoke needed something to lift the crowd and Mame Diouf raised the volume with a spectacular overhead kick from Joe Allen's cross that flew narrowly over.

There was also drama at the start of the second half when Marcos Alonso received a bang on the face from Diouf and vented his frustration by kicking Allen to receive a yellow. He then caught Diouf leaving Stoke fans to bay for a red card.

Alonso was removed by Conte after 59 minutes, Hughes considering it evidence that Chelsea knew he'd been lucky to escape a dismissal.

'He should have been sent off,' said the Stoke manager, who was irritable through the game and warned by the fourth official to calm down at one stage.

The Italian denied that was the motivation for replacing his left wing-back. 'Honestly, it was a tactical substitution. I could see they were preparing to bring on Peter Crouch.

'You know very well we always suffer with him and for this reason I preferred to reinforce our defensive line with Gary Cahill and to move Azpi to wing-back.'

Cahill duly came on for Chelsea with Crouch arriving two minutes later and promptly winning a knockdown that Diouf fired over, but Morata had the last laugh to underline why Chelsea spent a record £60million transfer fee on him last summer.

After 77 minutes, he capitalised on a intercepted pass from Johnson to accelerate away from the defender and past the struggling Fletcher. The move was completed by a lovely dinked finish over Butland.

The hat-trick goal arrived five minutes later. Fabregas pinged a quarteback pass to Azpilicueta who managed a chested pass into Morata's path without breaking stride.

Chelsea's No9 tapped in one of the easier goals of his career and Hughes said: 'He is a top quality striker, clearly. For that money you would expect that and if you look at the chance conversions, Chelsea had seven shots on target and he scored three. We had 13 and didn't score any. You can't win Premier League games if you make catastrophic errors and we made at least three.

'We were still very much in the game at 2-0 but then Bruno went off because he'd done his groin. Once we were down to no centre-backs, they were able to embellish the scoreline.'

As the hero Morata was engulfed by team-mates, the travelling Blue army broke into song. There must have been temporary alarm in the directors' box given that an earlier ditty for Morata contained some unacceptable anti-semitic content.

The fans had heeded the stern warnings not to repeat that tune and instead sang about their new hero being better than Harry Kane - and possibly Costa, too.


Stoke City (3-4-3): Butland 6; Johnson 5, Martins Indi 6.5 (Afellay 76, 6), Pieters 6; Diouf 7, Fletcher 4.5, Allen 6, Ramadan 5.5; Shaqiri 6.5, Choupo-Moting 6, Jese 5.5 (Crouch 61, 6.5)

Unused subs: Grant, Tymon, Souttar, Adam, Berahino

Bookings: Shaqiri 47, Crouch 89

Manager: Mark Hughes

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois 6.5; Azpilicueta 8, Christensen 6.5, Rudiger 7; Moses 6.5, Kante 6.5, Bakayoko 7, Alonso 6.5 (Cahill 58, 6); Willian 7 (Hazard 73, 6), Morata 9, Pedro 7.5 (Fabregas 68, 7)

Unused subs: Caballero, Zappacosta, Musonda, Batshuayi

Goals: Morata 2, 77, 82, Pedro 30

Bookings: Alonso 50, Kante 56

Manager: Antonio Conte


Referee: Mike Dean 7

Attendance: 29,661

=================================

Telegraph:

Stoke City 0 Chelsea 4: Diego Costa consigned to history as Alvaro Morata bags hat-trick

John Percy

“He comes from sunny Spain, he’s better than Harry Kane”, was the new chant from Chelsea’s supporters.

There was the proof, if it was needed, that Diego Costa has finally been consigned to history and Chelsea’s future appears brighter with Alvaro Morata.

While Costa’s sale to Atletico Madrid will ease the worry lines on Antonio Conte’s forehead, any fears over the wisdom of that £57m deal will disappear with Morata in this form.

The summer signing claimed a hat-trick, with the three goals all scored with his feet, to complete a comfortable afternoon for the Premier League champions as they prepare for a potentially pivotal week.

Stoke’s depleted defence were punished in a ruthless performance with Morata at the forefront with a classic centre-forward’s performance, his second goal in particular a sublime individual effort.

There was even a more tasteful new song from the travelling Chelsea fans to serenade their new hero, a fortnight after the controversial chant at Leicester which was condemned by the club. Morata now has six league goals since that move from Real Madrid.

He will create fewer unwanted headlines, and lacks the bull-headed aggression of his predecessor, but the 24-year-old’s success in front of goal is likely to define Conte’s title defence.

September 23rd 2017 AD (After Diego) feels like a big moment in Conte’s Chelsea reign.

“I was pleased with the new chant from our supporters and I thank them for that. I was also pleased with Alvaro’s performance and scoring a hat-trick is very important for a striker,” said the Chelsea manager.

“Now he has to continue in this way to be a top striker. It is not easy to win away at Stoke as this game is always difficult but we created many chances to improve the final result.

"I think we have to be focused at what we do and not others. We want to fight in every competition we are playing."

The chaotic opening day defeat against Burnley must feel like a long time ago for Conte now, with Chelsea rediscovering the verve and vigour from last season.

This week promises to be a crucial moment in their campaign, with  Wednesday’s  rematch with old enemies Atletico Madrid in the Champions League before their encounter with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next weekend.

Games at the Potteries can often be strewn with danger for the big clubs but Conte cannot have envisaged such a stress-free afternoon. He even had the luxury of starting with Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas on the bench.

There were mitigating circumstances for Stoke, in fairness, who have suffered an untimely and almighty defensive crisis. Ryan Shawcross, Kevin Wimmer and Geoff Cameron were all injured, while on-loan defender Kurt Zouma was ineligible against his parent club.

Towards the end, shortly before Chelsea’s third goal, Bruno Martins Indi joined the lengthy list after limping off with a groin problem.

Indeed, Stoke are so short of options that the ‘Jaws’ theme music could have been played every time the ball was punted into their half.

And Hughes’ fears were realised after just 80 seconds when Chelsea took the lead with a brutally simple goal.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s lofted pass completely bypassed Stoke’s three-man defence to send Morata clear and his finish under Jack Butland was clinical. It was Morata’s first non-headed goal for Chelsea.

Stoke have beaten Arsenal and drawn with Manchester United at the bet365 Stadium already this season but any hopes of another notable result were destroyed on the half-hour.

This time it was a mistake from captain Darren Fletcher, his attempted chest-down to Martins Indi going completely awry, and Pedro scampered clear to drive a fine shot across Butland. “That’s why we’re champions,” chanted Chelsea’s travelling support.

Stoke did respond and created their best chance of the first half when Mame Diouf sent an acrobatic overhead kick wide after a sustained period of pressure two minutes before the break.

And their frustration only increased when referee Mike Dean, already unpopular in these parts, booked Marcos Alonso for a swipe at Joe Allen and then failed to dismiss the Chelsea defender 60 seconds later for a foul on Diouf.

It was Alonso’s last contribution of the afternoon, with Conte sensibly taking him off to spare him from what was looking an inevitable red card. Conte claimed afterwards the substitution was made to combat the incoming introduction of Peter Crouch, but it felt like shrewd management to prevent Chelsea from being reduced to ten men.

The entrance of Crouch on the hour told you everything about Stoke’s gameplan and it nearly paid off for the home team.

Crouch was immediately involved, his knockdown from Glen Johnson’s pass presenting Diouf with a chance at the far post but he sliced his shot wide. Fletcher then somehow contrived to miss a simple chance from a few yards out.

That wasted opportunity sparked Chelsea back into life and they eased to the three points when Morata produced a brilliant third goal 13 minutes from time, running from the halfway line down the left flank to advance the area and lift the ball over Butland.

The goal which claimed the hat-trick was far more primitive, poking the ball in from two yards out after Azpilicueta unselfishly chested the ball into his path.

It was a chastening afternoon for Stoke, the bet365 Stadium virtually empty by the final whistle.

Hughes said: “When you spend nearly £60m on a striker you can expect that level of expertise.

“He’s obviously a top quality striker but we contributed to our own downfall. Chelsea had seven shots and he scored three of them. You can’t win games if you make catastrophic errors and we made three of them.

"They will be delighted with a 4-0 scoreline. It has flattered them somewhat.”

=================================

Independent:

Alvaro Morata helps banish memories of Diego Costa as hat-trick fires champions Chelsea past Stoke

Stoke 0 Chelsea 4: The Spaniard scored his first Blues goals with his feet while Pedro added another as Antonio Conte's men thrashed the Potters

Tim Rich

This was supposed to have been the afternoon when Chelsea would regret having fallen out with Diego Costa.

Mark Hughes may like to argue that his club have lost their rough edges but Stoke away is a test of character, of fight and of a will to win. It was a contest Diego would have relished. Instead, Chelsea’s attack was led by a forward, who in the words of his manager, Antonio Conte, is the kind of man you would like your daughter to marry.

Dear, sweet Alvaro Morata, the boy who would turn up on your doorstep with a bunch of flowers, hit a hat-trick and Stoke were routed in their own stadium in a way they have rarely been. After completing his hat-trick, by putting away an assist from Cesar Azpilicueta for the fourth time in his embryonic Chelsea career, he had two more chances to score. He might have had five.

Stoke contributed plenty to their own demise. When they are talked about it is always with the air that a trip to the Potteries carries with it encounters with dragons and trolls. However, when Stoke defend as abysmally as they did here, they are an all-inclusive holiday with transfers from the airport.

With Kurt Zouma ineligible to play against his parent club and Ryan Shawcross injured, Stoke had a threadbare look about them and were punished accordingly.

For Chelsea it was a match played largely in the angular shadow of Atletico Madrid’s new stadium, the Metropolitano, where they will play in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill all began on the bench, although all came on – Cahill because Marcos Alonso was in real danger of getting himself sent off.

All the pre-match debate as to whether these had been sensible risks was washed away in the first 80 seconds. It was time enough for Tiemoue Bakayoko to bring the ball out of defence and for Azpilicueta to launch it long. Like Conte, Hughes had employed three centre-halves but only one, Bruno Martins Indi, was a specialist in the position. The Dutchman failed entirely to read the danger as Morata glided through and brought the ball under control with his first touch and slipped it past Jack Butland with his second.

Having been beaten at Newcastle and in midweek by Bristol City in the League Cup, Stoke needed to haul their way back into this match. They did so in terms of possession but much of their play ran down the right, where Mame Diouf’s crosses were frequently not equal to the task. When the roles were reversed and Joe Allen put the ball into the area, Diouf answered with an overhead kick that scudded wide. For all Stoke’s possession and their considerable firepower, that was as close as they were to come from open play in the first half.

By then, they were already two down. Again, Stoke had committed a basic defensive error, again another of Chelsea’s Spanish forwards had found themselves clear on goal and again they had not missed.

The error came from Darren Fletcher, perhaps the most reliable player in Hughes’s line-up, who in trying to chest down Erik Pieters’s wayward header simply played it into the path of Pedro Rodriguez. His shot blazed past Butland. A one-time Real Madrid player had scored the first, a former Barcelona forward has struck the second and now thoughts could start to drift towards Atletico.

Hughes responded by bringing off Jese for Peter Crouch. You could be snobbish and say this was new Stoke going back to old Stoke but the fact remained that they looked far more dangerous when pumping up the ball to the big man.

There was nothing anyone could do about Morata’s second that began with a run just inside the Stoke half. Fletcher was in weary pursuit for much of it but the finish, from a tight angle, was utterly exquisite. There were 3,000 supporters from Chelsea and, on the basis of that goal alone, most of them would have wanted their daughter to marry the boy from Madrid.

Stoke City (5-3-2): Butland; Diouf, Martins Indi (Affelay 77), Pieters; Fletcher, Allen; Ramadan, Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting, Jese (Crouch 61). Substitutes: Grant (g), Berahino, Tymon, Adam, Souttar.

Chelsea: (3-4-3) Courtois; Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; Alonso (Cahill 59), Bakayoko, Kante, Moses; Pedro (Fabregas 68), Morata, Willian (Hazard 72). Substitutes: Caballero (g), Musonda, Zappacosta, Batshuayi.

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 29,661


==================================

Observer:

Álvaro Morata strikes treble for Chelsea in crushing defeat of Stoke

Stoke 0 - 4 Chelsea

Stuart James

Antonio Conte was his usual animated self on the touchline, pacing up and down and waving his arms around, yet this was one of those afternoons when the Chelsea manager could have put his feet up, sat back and enjoyed the show as the outstanding Álvaro Morata took centre stage with a superb hat-trick.

Chelsea’s record signing took his tally to an impressive seven goals in seven games in the process and it felt fitting that he should deliver such an outstanding performance at the end of a week when the Premier League champions finally said goodbye to Diego Costa. Diego who?

Few at Chelsea will be pining for Costa’s rampaging presence up front if Morata continues to play with this sort of finesse while also displaying such composure in front of goal. Chelsea’s supporters have already fallen in love with the man Conte described 24 hours earlier as the type of person a father would be happy for his daughter to marry.

Morata’s name was once again ringing out from the away end in the second half, just as it had at Leicester a couple of weeks ago, only this time the words were far more palatable, suggesting that the striker is better than Harry Kane rather than a crude reference to “Yids”.

Time will tell whether Morata can score as prolifically as Kane in the Premier League but on what we have seen so far the 24-year-old will give the England international a run for his money when it comes to the golden boot. Morata’s second here was particularly special and he could easily have ended up with four or five.

Pedro scored the other goal in a comfortable Chelsea victory that provided good preparation for a crucial week with Conte’s players travelling to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge three days later.

It is a safe bet that neither Atlético nor City will be as obliging opponents as Stoke, who contributed to their own downfall by making what Mark Hughes described as “catastrophic errors”. With two central defenders injured, and Kurt Zouma ineligible to play against his parent club, Hughes was entitled to point to mitigating circumstances, but that was still no excuse for the way Stoke gifted Chelsea their first two goals.

Morata scored the first, with 81 seconds on the clock, and that set the tone. Hughes felt aggrieved that Marcos Alonso escaped with a talking to from Mike Dean, the referee, rather than a second yellow card early in the second half and also suggested that the scoreline flattered Chelsea. That may have been so to an extent, yet there was still no escaping the gulf in class, epitomised by Morata’s display up front.

“Álvaro performed very well,” Conte said. “He scored a hat-trick and for a striker that is very important. Don’t forget the last game against Nottingham Forest the same happened with [Michy] Batshuayi. It means that we create the chances for our strikers to take. I am pleased with his performance and I’m pleased with the performance of the team.”

Conte, rather dubiously, claimed that it was a tactical decision to take Alonso off shortly after the Stoke supporters bayed for the left wing-back to be dismissed following a foul on Mame Diouf. Either way, it was a wise call and prevented Alonso from running the risk of becoming the fourth Chelsea player to be sent off in six league games this season.

By that stage Chelsea were two goals to the good. Morata’s first came about after Bruno Martins Indi, who limped off with a groin strain in the second half to add to Stoke’s defensive woes, was caught ball-watching. Running on to César Azpilicueta’s floated pass, Morata took a touch before prodding coolly past Jack Butland.

Pedro then doubled Chelsea’s lead when he pounced on Darren Fletcher’s mistake and struck a beautifully placed shot from the edge of the area across Butland and into the far corner.

Although Fletcher should have pulled a goal back after the restart with a free header from Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick, there was always a sense that Chelsea had another gear. They found it when Tiémoué Bakayoko charged down Glen Johnson’s clearance and Morata scampered clear on the left. Leaving Fletcher in his wake, Morata showed wonderful composure as he delightfully lifted the ball into the corner with the angle against him.

A tap-in from another Azpilicueta assist completed the rout and Morata’s hat-trick. “He’s a top-quality striker, clearly,” said Hughes.


==================================

Express:

Stoke 0 - Chelsea 4: Alvaro Morata hat-trick helps Blues forget bad boy Diego Costa

PERHAPS it only took two days for Alvaro Morata to show there is life after Diego Costa.

Perhaps it only took 83 seconds.

Either way, Chelsea did not miss their temperamental talisman, target man and top scorer. On Thursday, they agreed to sell Costa to Atletico Madrid. Today, his successor scored a hat-trick as they secured a win made in Spain.

Pedro got the second goal. Morata got the other three, including a second-minute opener. If he is feeling the pressure of replacing Costa, the cult hero who inspired Chelsea to two league titles, he did not show it. He was too slick and too quick for Stoke. Costa would go to war against defenders. Morata simply sprinted past them.

But, much like Costa, he is scoring when and where it matters. Arsenal had lost in Stoke. Manchester United had dropped points. Chelsea ran riot.

They scored from their first four shots on target. Morata almost got four goals himself. Glen Johnson cleared his late shot off the line. But this was why Chelsea spent a club-record fee on him. This was why he played for Real Madrid and Juventus. “Alvaro performed very well,” said boss Antonio Conte. “He scored a hat-trick and for a striker that’s very important.”

“He’s top quality,” said Stoke boss Mark Hughes. If it was a test if his makeshift defence could stop a £60 million striker, the answer came straight away. They couldn’t. Hughes was without four injured and ineligible centre-backs. The men he selected instead simply stood and watched as Cesar Azpilicueta’s chipped pass was met by Morata.

He slipped a shot past Jack Butland. He beat the goalkeeper again after the one remaining centre-back, Bruno Martins Indi, went off injured. “Once we were down to no centre-backs, they were able to put a little bit of gloss,” added Hughes. Morata then surged clear to score. Then he got a tap-in when Azpilicueta chested the ball to him. The sold Costa had Cesc Fabregas as his personal supply line. Morata keeps being set up by another Spaniard. Defender Azpilicueta has four assists for his six goals.

In contrast, Stoke’s new-look defence were hardly helped by their most experienced midfielder. Stand-in skipper Darren Fletcher led by the wrong sort of example when he tried to chest the ball to Martins Indi, picked out Pedro instead and the winger struck.

“You can’t win Premier League games if you make catastrophic errors and we made at least three,” added Hughes. Stoke also lacked Morata’s accuracy. While Mame Biram Diouf almost scored in spectacular style with an overhead kick, they did not have a shot on target until the 60th minute.

Chelsea’s only alarm came when Marcos Alonso, already booked, fouled Diouf and risked getting their sixth red card in 10 games. “He should have been sent off,” said Hughes. So Conte showed his common sense. He removed Alonso and brought on Gary Cahill. He could afford to start without the captain and Hazard. He needed neither. He certainly did not need Costa. That was the Morata effect.


==============================

Mirror:

Stoke 0-4 Chelsea: Alvaro Morata hits hat-trick to fire Antonio Conte's men to victory

The Spaniard hit a treble in the same week Diego Costa left the club

BY MIKE WALTERS

Chelsea continued to show there is life after Diego Costa with another Premier League victory at Stoke, with Alvaro Morata scoring a hat-trick.

Morata, the club-record signing bought to replace Costa, was on the scoresheet again early on before Pedro extended the lead on the half-hour mark.

The game was just over a minute old when Cesar Azpilicueta's long ball forward dissected Stoke's makeshift back line and allowed the lethal Morata to take a touch and finish calmly past Jack Butland.

Chelsea's second goal arrived after 30 minutes and it came from another mistake. Darren Fletcher attempted to chest the ball down to Martins Indi but got the weight wrong, allowing Pedro through on goal to score with a lovely finish from the edge of the penalty area.

Late on, Morata accelerated past Johnson and Fletcher before clipping the ball beyond Butland.

He completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute when Azpilicueta and Cesc Fabregas combined to lay on a tap-in and seal a fourth win in five Premier League matches for Conte's team.

1. Happy anniversary, Antonio

It was 12 months ago this weekend that Chelsea, 3-0 down against Arsenal at half-time, abandoned a flat back four and manager Antonio Conte resorted to his preferred system of three central defenders plus two wing-backs.

Since then, they have taken a frightening 96 points from 38 Premier League games despite waving their long-serving captain off into the sunset and flogging their fugitive top scorer back to Atletico Madrid.

Conte is about to discover, over the relentless pre-Christmas schedule including a return to Champions League orbit, whether his squad can sustain those high standards.

But seldom, if ever, has there been a such a conspicuous turning point in the fortunes of a club who went on to win the title as Conte's brave call at the Emirates last year.

2. Gone in 81 seconds

Hat-trick hero Alvaro Morata took just 81 seconds to consign Diego Costa's Chelsea career to the past tense.

Diego Who?

Last season's top scorer finally completed his stand-off with the champions by sealing his return to Atletico Madrid in midweek after one of the longest strikes since former miners' leader Arthur Scargill was calling the shots in industrial relations.

But when Bruno Martins Indi was caught ball-watching from Cesar Azpilicueta's speculative long ball, and £70m record signing Morata tucked away his fourth goal of the season expertly, none of Chelsea's 3,222 travelling missionaries in the Potteries were missing Costa one jot.

Morata's second goal to make it 3-0, a superb surge beyond Darren Fletcher and dinked finish over Jack Butland, was pretty tasty, too, and he only needed the faintest of prods from point-blank range to claim the match ball.

There few wish-you-were-here messages for Costa from Stokies, either. Among the many opponents Costa riled with his gift for starting rows in empty rooms was Ryan Shawcross – who missed out through injury here – with an unsubtle hint that the Potters captain suffered from a lack of personal hygiene two years ago.

3. Stoke get the Blues again

Stoke have lost more games against Chelsea than any other side since their return to the Premier League in 2007.

Despite Charlie Adam's monster 60-yard goal at Stamford Bridge two years ago, and the Potters giving Jose Mourinho a hefty shove towards the exit six months later, Stoke's 10-year record against the Blues – played 22, lost 16, drawn three, won three - reads like a threatening letter.

And it isn't going to improve in a hurry if they defend as charitably as Darren Fletcher, whose mistake let Pedro in to fire Chelsea 2-0 up with less than half an hour on the clock here.

4. Dane and dusted

Andreas Christensen made his Premier League debut in a small, compact stadium called Wembley last month, when Chelsea emerged from the swag in a torrid 2-1 win against Tottenham.

Amid the excitement of the Blues unleashing a crop of exciting youngsters from the bench in the Carbao Cup romp against Nottingham Forest in midweek – Jake Salter-Clarke, Dujon Sterling and Ethan Ampadu joining Charly Musonda junior, who started – Christensen has almost slipped under the radar.

Upright, comfortable on the ball and strong in the air, Christensen comes from Denmark but is technically home-grown at Stamford Bridge because he joined Chelsea as a teenager and completed his youth team service in the Blues' academy.

Christensen, 21, stood tall when Stoke peppered the Blues' box with a stream of crosses as they rallied briefly after the interval.


5. Dean and dusted

When Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso, who had been booked only two minutes earlier, clattered into Mame Diouf and was spared a second yellow card by referee Mike Dean, the bet365 stadium was in uproar.

“He plays for Stoke, you send him off”, bellowed the Boothen end, and they may have had a point.

If Stoke, who were 2-0 down at the time, had been half an hour against 10 men to retrieve the deficit, you never know what might have happened next.

One bugbear for fans whose natural habitat is outside the Premier League's top six is a perceived big-club favouritism. Dean's lenient interpretation of Alonso's indiscretion only adds weight to that suspicion.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte certainly thought Alonso was treading a fine line, hauling him off to be replaced by England defender Gary Cahill after 58 minutes

===============================

Star:

Stoke 0 Chelsea 4: Alvaro Morata scores first club hat-trick as Blues run riot

CHELSEA might have lost the master of the dark arts in Diego Costa – but in Alvaro Morata there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel.

By Paul Hetherington

Stoke boss Mark Hughes made it clear he thinks his former club are poorer for last Friday’s £67million sale of Costa to Atletico Madrid.

It was Sparky who referred to those “dark arts” when discussing Costa’s eventual return to Atletico after falling out with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte last season.

But Costa’s replacement – Morata – has hit the ground running at the Premier League champions.

In fact, the former Real Madrid and Juventus striker has never been in such good form at the start of a season.It took the £60m signing from Real only 83 seconds to give Chelsea the lead yesterday.

With Gary Cahill on the bench at the start ahead of this week’s Champions League game against Atletico, Cesar Azpilicueta took the captain’s armband.

And it was his early, long ball which caught out a depleted Stoke back line, with Ryan Shawcross, Kurt Zouma, Kevin Wimmer and Geoff Cameron unavailable.

Morata raced on to Azpilicueta’s pass and calmly steered a right-foot finish wide of Stoke keeper Jack Butland and in to the far corner of the net.

It was Morata’s fourth goal of the season – the previous three all being with his head.

And he went on to score his first hat-trick in England.

In the 78th minute he raced almost half the length of the pitch before producing a neat finish.

And four minutes later Morata turned the ball over the line after Azpilicueta had chested Cesc Fabregas’s pass into his path.

Stoke knew that their unbeaten home record this season, which included a win against Arsenal and draw with Manchester United, was going to be under serious threat from that first Morata goal.

And they had only themselves to blame when Chelsea increased their lead on the half hour.

Skipper Darren Fletcher casually chested the ball back towards his own goal – but only in to the path of the alert Pedro who gratefully hammered a right-foot drive in to the corner of the net, beating the diving Butland.

Stoke needed an inspirational moment to get back in to the match and it almost arrived two minutes before half-time.

But Mame Biram Diouf’s fine overhead effort from Joe Allen’s excellent cross was off target.

Stoke did not have a shot on target until the hour mark, when the lively Xherdan Shaqiri produced a left-foot effort which Thibaut Courtois comfortably held.

But the second half was more uncomfortable for the champions.

Peter Crouch caused problems when he came on as substitute for the anonymous Jese.

The former England target man set up a chance when he won the ball in the air but Diouf – under pressure from Antonio Rudiger – could not keep his shot down.

And with Marcos Alonso walking a disciplinary tightrope after being yellow-carded, Conte sensibly replaced him with Cahill.

Fletcher’s uncharacteristically poor afternoon also saw him fail to convert a chance with his head.

The former Manchester United midfielder miscued and the ball ended up bouncing off his foot and trickling wide.

That was six minutes before the highly-impressive Morata wrapped it up for Chelsea with his second and third goals.

And three minutes from time Glen Johnson cleared off the line to prevent a fourth goal for the Spanish striker.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: “We contributed to our own downfall. That’s the story of the game from our point of view.

“If you make catastrophic defensive mistakes against a side like Chelsea, then they are going to punish you.

“But there were extenuating circumstances given the shortage of personnel we had at the back and to make matters worse, we then lose Bruno Martins-Indi with a groin injury.

“But in my view, Alonso should have been sent off and it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if we had been playing against ten men.

“Clearly, their manager thought so, too, because he took off Alonso.”


Stoke: Butland 6; Johnson 5, Martins Indi 6 (Afellay (76th) Pieters 5; Diouf 6, Fletcher 5, Allen 7, Sobhi 5; Shaqiri 7, Jese 5 (Crouch (62nd) 6) Choupo-Moting 5

Chelsea: Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 8, Christensen 7, Rudiger 8; Moses 6, Kante 7, Bakayoko 6, Alonso 6 (Cahill (58th) 6); Willian 6 (Hazard (72nd) 6), Morata 9, Pedro 7 (Fabregas (68th) 6)


STAR MAN: Alvaro Morata

Ref: M Dean

Stoke’s next game: Southampton (H), Sept 30

Chelsea’s next game: Atletico Madrid (A), Sept 27

STAT ATTACK: Stoke boss Mark Hughes has faced Chelsea 24 times as a Premier League boss and the former Man United and Chelsea striker has lost 16 times, more than against any other team.


==================================

Sun:

MOR HEROICS Stoke 0 Chelsea 4

Alvaro Morata scores a sublime hat-trick as Antonio Conte’s Blues stroll to comfortable win at bet365 Stadium


Pedro also scored as fears surround Thibaut Courtois, who appeared to play on despite possibly being knocked out

By Charlie Wyett and Dave Fraser

ALVARO MORATA took just 81 seconds to make his mark – and then completed his first hat-trick in English football in a dazzling display of expert finishing.

Not a bad start for a bloke looking to prove himself after Diego Costa finally headed into the sunset and rejoined Atletico Madrid.


Chelsea, who made a number of changes ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Atletico, looks solid enough without getting out of third gear and Morata was the star man.

On the back of Costa finally leaving, Antonio Conte will have been delighted his replacement scored so early and then went on the rampage.

In only the second minute, Cesar Azpilicueta punted the ball long, Bruno Martins Indi appeared to be stuck in quicksand and Morata moved the ball inside the area with one touch before steering it past an exposed Jack Butland.

It was a decent finish and after three headers, this one was with his right boot.

Pedro’s second strike was even better and it was helped by a string of errors with Darren Fletcher the main culprit.

Erik Pieters delivered a weak header into the air, Fletcher chested the ball into the direction of Morata and Martins Indi was once again pedestrian.

Pedro took one touch before delivering a powerful shot across Butland for his first Premier League strike of the season

In the second half, Stoke fans demanded the dismissal of Marcos Alonso after he fouled Mame Biram Diouf having already been on a yellow card.

As a precaution, with the home fans screaming for blood, Alonso was substituted for Gary Cahill.

Meanwhile there was a scary moment as Thibaut Courtois appeared to be knocked out cold contesting a cross... only to play on for the rest of the game.

Fletcher’s bad day continued when he missed an easy chance with Diouf somehow sending the follow-up into the side-netting.

Glen Johnson and Fletcher were then outpaced badly by Morata who charged into the area before delivering a fine finish for 3-0.

With eight minutes left, Morata completed his hat-trick when Azpilicueta chested the ball into his path.


WHAT THEY SAID

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told BBC: "It was a good day, a good result for us. Stoke are a really good team and very strong.

"It was very difficult to win here but we deserved to win the game. We started well and scored early and were in control of the game. I repeat, it's not simple to win away against them."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes said: "They will be delighted with a 4-0 score. It has flattered them somewhat.

"We made too many mistakes against a team who can exploit that. Defensive errors took it away from us.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Nottingham Forest 5-1



Telegraph:

Chelsea 5 Nottingham Forest 1: Kenedy returns to Chelsea ranks to set up Carabao Cup romp

Matt Law

 Social media and diplomatic relations might not be his thing, but Kenedy offered encouragement that he still might have a career as a Chelsea footballer.

The last time Kenedy did anything of note, Chelsea were forced to issue a grovelling apology in both English and Mandarin after the Brazilian had posted a video on Instagram of a sleeping security guard with the message: “Wake up China. You idiot.”

It was roughly 3am on Thursday morning in China when Kenedy marked his first Chelsea appearance, in the competition sponsored by an energy drink, since being sent home from the pre-season tour in disgrace with a goal against Nottingham Forest.

Quite what Chinese football fans and the newspaper that wrote ‘China does not welcome a player like this; nor does China welcome a team like this’ will make of the fact Kenedy was among Chelsea’s Carabao Cup goalscorers remains to be seen.

But head coach Antonio Conte was delighted with Kenedy’s comeback in the thrashing of Forest that also saw Charly Musonda score on his full debut and Michy Batshuayi net a hat-trick. Chelsea will now face Everton at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round.

 “Kenedy played very well,” said Conte. “He’s working very well, working a lot. He is improving. He has to continue. When there will be the opportunity or any chance, he must exploit it.”

Ethan Ampadu, who turned 17 last week, became the ninth youngest player in Chelsea’s history when he replaced Cesc Fabregas in the second half.

The first contribution of Ampadu was to foul Daniel Fox, who had to be replaced by Tendayi Darikwa and it was the Forest substitute who grabbed the away side’s consolation goal on the final whistle.

Chelsea finished the game with Ampadu, 19-year-old Jake Clarke-Salter and 17-year-old Dejan Sterling all on the pitch as Conte had a look into the club’s future.

“I gave a chance to the young players from our academy and this is very positive,” said Conte. “Ethan has the potential to become a good player. He must continue to work with humility and improve, but we must be pleased for tonight.”

Central defender Luiz had fractured a bone in his wrist when he collided with an advertising hoarding during the Arsenal clash. The Brazilian is now training with a cast on and the injury will not prevent him facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week.

It was Musonda who jinked his way out of trouble to help set up Kenedy’s opener. The Belgian sprayed the ball to Antonio Rudiger, whose cross was coolly cushioned into the net by the Brazilian.

In a lively first-half performance, Kenedy also sent in a low cross from the left that either Batshuayi or Musonda should have converted and smashed a 25-yard drive just over the bar.

Kenedy’s goal had been slightly harsh on Forest, who had started brightly on the 13th anniversary of the great Brian Clough’s death, but the visitors were two down in just the 19th minute.

Eden Hazard, making his first start of the season since undergoing ankle surgery, sent through Batshuayi and the Belgian striker beat Forest goalkeeper Stephen Henderson with a deflected shot.

Forest almost managed a quick reply to reduce Chelsea’s advantage. Cesc Fabregas gave away a free-kick on the edge of his own penalty area and Kieran Dowell was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the crossbar.

But the tie was effectively killed five minutes before the break, when Musonda marked his full debut with a goal. Fabregas laid off the ball to the 20-year-old, who sent an angled effort past the diving Henderson.

Hazard hit the inside of the post just four minutes into the second half and then did brilliantly to hand Batshuayi his second goal of the night on a plate.

Batshuayi completed his hat-trick after Kenedy had struck the Forest bar, before Darikwa pulled a late goal back for the Championship club.


==============================

Independent:

Chelsea 5 Nottingham Forest 1: Michy Batshuayi hat-trick seals victory for rampant Blues

Goals from Kenedy and the impressive Charly Musonda add to rout of Championship side who score late consolation through Tendayi Darikwa

Matt McGeehan

Michy Batshuayi scored a hat-trick as Chelsea provided a glimpse of the future with a 5-1 Carabao Cup rout of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Kenedy and the impressive Charly Musonda were also on target and Tendayi Darikwa scored a late consolation for Forest as the Premier League champions advanced to the fourth round with ease.

Ethan Ampadu became the first Chelsea player born this millennium, a week after his 17th birthday, on a night when Eden Hazard delighted on his first start of the season after his broken ankle.

A week after the 6-0 Champions League win over Qarabag and following Sunday's goalless draw with Arsenal, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte rotated his options once again ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Stoke.

Nine Chelsea changes and eight for Championship Forest, who lost to Wolves last Saturday and next play John Terry's Aston Villa, showed where the teams' priorities lie.

Michael Mancienne's place in the centre of the Forest defence was a reminder of the Chelsea academy products who have not make the grade. He made six appearances for the Blues between 2006 and 2009.

Musonda and Andreas Christensen were the academy graduates given chances to impress on Wednesday night. Both did so, while Jake Clarke-Salter, Dujon Sterling and Ampadu came off the bench.

Hazard, Batshuayi and Musonda formed an all-Belgium attacking triumvirate which was too much for opponents who also had defensive lapses.

After some early defensive jitters of their own from Kenedy and Willy Caballero, the goalkeeper who was making his debut a week prior to his 36th birthday, Chelsea took the lead.

Kenedy's Blues career looked like it could be coming to an end when he was sent home from the pre-season tour to Asia following some ill-advised social media posts on China. He apologised and has been reintegrated into the squad.

The Brazilian scored his first goal since March 2016 when he ghosted behind the Forest defence to meet Antonio Rudiger's cross with a side-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

Next came some good fortune as Hazard's through ball took a deflection off Jack Hobbs and Batshuayi showed composure to finish.

Kieran Dowell curled a free-kick onto the crossbar for Forest, who, having come close to halving it, saw their deficit increase.

Cesc Fabregas found Musonda inside the right edge of the area and the Belgian fired the ball under Henderson for his first Chelsea goal.

Musonda prodded wide from another Fabregas pass before half-time and Hazard struck a post soon after the restart after making space for himself on the left edge of the area.

Hazard then raced on to a long Fabregas pass and deceived Henderson. He might have scored himself but instead passed for Batshuayi to roll the ball in.

Dowell shot narrowly over before Fabregas was replaced by Ampadu, who signed from Exeter in the summer with a fee still to be settled with the Devon club. Ampadu did not look out of place.

Chelsea scored a fifth when Kenedy's shot from a tight angle bounced back off the bar and in off Batshuayi's lap for his third.

There was still time for Forest to score, as Darikwa netted with the final kick of the game.

==========================

Guardian:

Batshuayi hits treble and Musonda excels as Chelsea silence Forest

Chelsea 5 - 1 Nottm Forest

Ed Aarons at Stamford Bridge

Charly Musonda Jr had waited five years for his opportunity and even on his compatriot Eden Hazard’s long-awaited return to the starting line-up, he was not to be upstaged.

The baby-faced forward spent last season on loan at Real Betis but has been forced to sit by patiently for a Chelsea debut ever since arriving at the club as a 15-year-old in 2012. A brilliant performance capped by the third goal as Michy Batshuayi also scored a hat-trick in this thrashing of a poor visiting side ensured it was worth the wait.

“I think Charly played very well,” the Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, said. “He’s trying to work a lot to improve his physical impact with this league. Don’t forget this league is very strong in the physical aspect. We are working a lot with Charly in this aspect to be ready to play in this league. For sure, he’s a talented player, and he has to continue in this way. When there is the opportunity, the chance, to help us, he must do this.”

On the 13th anniversary of Brian Clough’s death, the Chelsea pitch announcer had paid tribute to the man who led Forest to two successive European Cups before the match. But this powderpuff display in a competition Clough won four times was a reminder of how far they have fallen, having now failed to reach the fourth round since the year Old Big ’Ead passed away.

Watched from the stands by their owner, Evangelos Marinakis, the Forest manager, Mark Warburton, made eight changes from the side that lost at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday to leave them 10th in the Championship. Conte went one better, as only Gary Cahill and Cesc Fàbregas retained their places after the stalemate against Arsenal at the weekend.

Hazard formed an all-Belgian frontline alongside Batshuayi and the 20-year-old Musonda, one of four brothers to have passed through Chelsea’s academy and the son of a former Zambia midfielder, also called Charly. But it was one of Chelsea’s less vaunted prospects who opened the scoring in the 12th minute, as Kenedy – making his first appearance since being sent home from the pre-season tour to China – timed his run perfectly to meet Antonio Rüdiger’s deep cross at the back post to volley home.

Batshuayi made it 2-0 six minutes later when Hazard’s clever through ball from the edge of the area found its way to his feet via a deflection. A curling free-kick from the impressive Everton loanee Kieran Dowell that cannoned off the bar was the best Forest could muster in response, before Musonda effectively ended the tie five minutes before half-time as he drilled home Fàbregas’s pass from a tight angle before celebrating his goal with a full swan dive in front of the West stand.

Chelsea picked up where they had left off after the break, with Hazard setting up Batshuayi for his second of the evening after a glorious long pass from Fàbregas. The Spaniard then made way for the 17-year-old Ethan Ampadu, who joined from Exeter City in the summer having broken Cliff Bastin’s record as the youngest player in the club’s history, to make his debut.

Another versatile teenager, Dujon Sterling, was also handed a late cameo at right wing-back for Chelsea as Forest attempted to salvage some pride, which eventually came via the last kick of the game from the substitute Tendayi Darikwa after Batshuayi had completed his hat-trick. But the night belonged to Musonda.


==========================

Mail:

Chelsea 5-1 Nottingham Forest: Michy Batshuayi hat-trick helps Blues earn victory in Carabao Cup as Eden Hazard gets full run-out at Stamford Bridge

By Matt Barlow for the Daily Mail

Little has been seen of Kenedy since the Brazilian was sent home in disgrace from Chelsea's pre-season tour in China after insulting the world's most populous nation.

He has been lying low since offensive posts on social media which included a photograph of a sleeping security guard tagged with the message: 'Wake up China you idiot.'

On Wednesday night, the idiot stirred and caught Nottingham Forest napping, opened the scoring on his first appearance of the season and set Chelsea on an course for a date with Everton in the last-16 of the Carabao Cup.

Charly Musonda also celebrated his full debut with a goal and Michy Batshuayi claimed the match-ball home after a hat-trick which owed much to the skill of others.

Two of Batshuayi's goals were created by the outstanding Eden Hazard and his third was a fierce Kenedy shot which rebounded off the bar and hit the striker in the chest before bouncing into the goal.

Forest pulled one back with the last kick of the tie, an untidy goal converted by substitute Tendayi Darikwa, but this was every bit as comfortable as the result might suggest for the Premier League champions and another triumph for the squad rotation policy of Antonio Conte.

The Chelsea boss made nine changes from Sunday's goalless draw against Arsenal, and sent on three teenagers from the bench when the game was already won.

Among them was Ethan Ampadu, a midfielder who moved from Exeter in the summer and signed his first professional contract after turning 17, last week.

Ampadu became the ninth youngster Chelsea player and the first player born in this millennium to represent the club. His first contribution was an over-enthusiastic tackle which forced Danny Fox off.

'It is very positive for us,' said Conte. 'I gave the chance to the young players from our academy and the answer was very good. I hope this can improve their confidence.'

Chelsea were in control from the 13th minute when Kenedy scored his first goal for 18 months, tucking away a deep cross by Antonio Rudiger.

'Kenedy played very well,' said Conte, but the manager failed to acknowledge questions about the pre-season episode in China. 'He's working very well, improving. He has to continue. When there is the opportunity he must exploit it.'

Forest flickered briefly after Batshuayi stabbed in the second. Kieran Dowell hit the bar with a free-kick but the visitors from the Championship slipped three behind when Musonda drove a shot low under goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

Hazard hit a post, early in the second-half, and created the fourth for Batshuayi with a burst clear onto a ball from Cesc Fabregas and a dummy which took the 'keeper out of the game.

Chelsea eased through to the final whistle and Batshauyi seemed slightly embarrassed to complete his treble in bizarre style.

'You can't concede soft goals,' said Forest boss Mark Warburton. 'Against really good players we were too soft at times. We took liberties on the edge of our own box. Against that level of play you will be punished.'


CHELSEA (3-4-3): Caballero 6; Rudiger 6, Christensen 6 (Clarke-Salter 70, 6), Cahill 6; Zappacosta 6 (Sterling 76, 6), Fabregas 7 (Ampadu 56, 6), Bakayoko 6, Kenedy 7; Hazard 7.5, Batshuayi 6.5, Musonda 6.5.

GOALS: Kenedy 13, Batshuayi 19, 53, 86, Musonda 40

BOOKINGS: Fabregas

SUBS: Eduardo, Willian, Moses, Morata.

MANAGER: Antonio Conte 7

FOREST (3-5-2): Henderson 5; Worrall 5, Hobbs 5, Mancienne 5; Lichaj 5, Dowell 5.5 (Clough 74, 5), Bouchalakis 5, Osborn 5.5, Fox 5 (Darikwa 60, 5); Walker 5 (Brereton 65, 5), Cummings 5.

GOALS: Darikwa 90+1

BOOKINGS: Hobbs

SUBS: Smith, McKay, Carayol, Vellios

MANAGER: Mark Warburton 5