Chelsea 4-4 Ajax: Eight goals, two red cards & two own-goals - What a game of football.

Eight goals, two red-cards, two own goals and two handball decisions that were questionable to say the least, with one of them being for a winner late in the game, what a football match this was in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. 

I mean where on earth do you start? Going to bed last night feeling as though we missed an opportunity for all three points have dropped two instead. To then think back to how we all felt at half-time knowing that we would have bitten your hand off to fight back to level things up, it was an unbelievable night. Ajax walked off the pitch at half-time 1-3 up having only had a single short on target for Christ sake - it was really one of those nights.

The Negatives:

We have to start with the negatives because there are there to be looked at and analyised by Frank Lampard and his staff this morning ahead of the Crystal Palace game on Saturday. Tammy Abraham does not need reminding off his mistake and he will know himself that he needed to do better with that first goal.

The second goal we switched off at the back to allow the attacker to get in behind onto the end of an outstanding cross into the box to flick the ball into the net. The fact that the cross should have been stopped in the first place is the first issue, the second was Azpi failing to react the the run off of his shoulder being caught ball-watching.

The third a great cross into the box but with a touch of luck to see the ball hit the post to then rebound into the net off Kepa’s face - nothing you can do with that. However, I think Kepa will be disappointed with his starting position and his angles for the initial whipped ball into the box.

Their fourth goal is a shambles it has to be said. We lose possession high up the pitch and to be fair Ajax move the ball well. Donny Van Deer Beek ambles forward and eventually moves into the box off the shoulder of Mateo Kovacic who doesn’t spot the danger until it’s too late. He takes the goal well but again, we have to be disappointed with how the game played out.

The positives:

So the positives. Let’s start by saying it was a great initial reaction to going behind after 90 seconds to win possession high up with our press and to force the penalty through Christian Pulisic. Jorginho steps up and scores to put the score back level after four or five minutes which is a massive boost so that was good to see.

The never give up attitude from the players, even when we found ourselves 1-4 behind was great to see. Frank Lampard spoke after the game and revealed that at 1-3 down at half-time, he told the players that he felt that we were well in the game and it could be a draw, that we could do it. You could see the players believe and not one of them dropped their heads.

People have mentioned numerous times about our intent to attack and that was more than evident last night. Just look at our second goal. The ball moves from one side to the other and who is there to eventually steer the ball home from close range?  Cesar Azpilicueta who had moved over the left-hand side after Reece James had replaced Marcos Alonso. Great from Chelsea to press and push high-up the pitch.

Our third goal and to Jorginho to score his SECOND penalty of the night. Great press and desire from Chelsea in attacking areas to win the ball back and put the opposition under pressure. Tammy does well to flick the ball past Blind who brings him own to receive his second yellow card which equals a sending-off. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s subsequent shot, having collected the ball from Tammy, hits the defenders arm by his side and VAR awards the penalty. It was harsh but the new UEFA rules played their part and he too received his second yellow-card to receive the second red-card of the game for Ajax leaving them with ten-men.

Under immense pressure in addition having to wait for the Ajax protests to calm down and be dealt with by the Referee, Jorginho kept his cool to slot home his second penalty of the night and our third making it 3-4.

Our fourth goal - Reece James pops up in the box to drill the ball home after Chelsea pressure on the Ajax defence plays its part. Kurt Zouma ( who had dribbled his way through the Ajax defence, to then produce a step-over to fool the defender and give himself a shot on goal which he blasted over the bar) had won the header from the ball into the box and hit the crossbar in the first place. The ball rebounded to James who drilled the ball home making it 4-4.

The hunger, the desire and the drive to keep going from our team was outstanding. For a team with an average age so young, to want to go out and produce football like that, an attacking display like that on arguably the biggest club stage is outstanding.

To Frank Lampard and for the job he is doing with the team and to what it means to the supporters. I recorded an extended video on Sunday evening called “Frank Lampard has brought my Chelsea back” and I am certain I am not alone when I say that. Have a watch for yourselves to see if you feel the same.

There is an energy about our football team now and you can feel it amongst the Chelsea fans in the stands or at home. We hoped that we can have a good season with tempered expectations based on where we were at the start of the season. Now, with week-in, week-out performances and performance levels from EVERYONE at such a level right now, literally anything is possible.

What an incredible night of football from two outstanding teams.

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