Chelsea fought back for a point after Swansea City nabbed two cheap goals early in the second half. The Blues dropped points for the first time under Antonio Conte who will be fuming at what he just saw.
Thibaut Courtois showed why his footwork is the only thing worse than his judgment (or maybe it’s the other way around) in the lead-up to Swansea’s opening goal. Minutes later, Leroy Fer fouled Gary Cahill, hopped over the Chelsea defender and ran in clean on goal.
Antonio Conte will not be happy over the circumstances of either Swansea goal – at his keeper for the first and at the officials for the second. But neither Swansea goal should have had that much of an impact, as Chelsea had numerous opportunities to put the game away before the half.
Diego Costa is a marked man
Swansea City’s strategy seemed to be harass, foul and provoke Diego Costa until he protests or retaliates his way into the referee’s book. They executed this strategy with the confidence that there was minimal risk of the plan backfiring. Andre Mariner proved them right.
Swansea City – particularly Jordi Amat – took every opportunity to hack, hold, obstruct and tug Diego Costa. They knew that Costa was more likely to get called – or booked – for simulation or dissent than they would for the actual foul. When Mariner did call a foul, the offense was frequently card-worthy. But he kept his hands out of his pockets until the 49th minute.
Diego Costa: Has been fouled more times (15) than any other player in the Premier League this season; Eden Hazard second (12) #cfc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 11, 2016
That was the in-the-moment tactic. They also knew that over the course of the game, their instigations and Andre Mariner’s silence would fuel Diego Costa into a fit of rage. When he inevitably boiled over, they would reap the reward of seeing him sent off.
The strategy paid off nearly perfectly. Even though Costa (miraculously) held his temper for the full 90 minutes, Swansea disrupted Chelsea’s play with a series of uncalled fouls that would have been bookings had they targeted any other player.
The absurdity reached new peaks off the pitch, as SkySports’ commentators breathlessly asked if Costa’s second goal should have been called back for a high boot / dangerous play.
We used to have to hope the Diego Double Standard would not cause him to get sent off. It may be time to adjust expectations to hoping the Double Standard does not result in an injury.
Echoes of Chelsea’s 2015/16
Chelsea’s inability to kill the game off in the first half despite overwhelming chances and offensive possession was too familiar. Chelsea applied relentless pressure on Swansea’s goal after Diego Costa opened the scoring. More often than not, the Blues lacked the instinct to shoot and instead took the extra pass or extra touch before sending a shot over or into traffic.
Happily, though, Chelsea battled back in a way that the 2015/16 Blues would not have. Rather than hang their heads and allow disorganization to take over after Swansea took the lead, Chelsea reignited their attack through their substitutes. The resilience paid off in Costa’s tying goal, and kept the possibility of a win alive until the 90th minute.
Substitutions continue to come late, pay off big – Why the wait?
Swansea City took the lead in the 62nd minute, and for the next 10 minutes threatened to put the game out of reach. Those 10 minutes, where Chelsea were fully on the back foot and mentally out of sorts, were a terrifying flashback until last year. Chelsea needed a sharp mind and fresh legs to come on and rattle Swansea’s momentum.
Yet Antonio Conte did not introduce his substitutes until the 77th minute, making a double change to bring on Cesc Fabregas and Victor Moses. Four minutes later, with the run of play shifting back in Chelsea’s favor, Diego Costa bicycled his second goal to bring the Blues level.
Diego Costa’s game-tying goal was SENSATIONAL! #PLonNBC https://t.co/PboRPbjNkJ
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 11, 2016
In every Premier League match so far this season, Conte has waited until after the 70th minute to bring on his substitutes. And every time, the introduction has led to a goal. Cesc Fabregas laid a perfect Cesc-ish pass in to Branislav Ivanovic. Ivanovic took a shot, and Costa pounded in the rebound.
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Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi had to wait another 15 minutes after the goal for his entrance. Chelsea’s most potent substitute so far this season played for only five minutes, having to jog the touchlines as his team went for the winner.
Antonio Conte appears to be falling into the same trap that ensnared Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink. His predecessors looked as if they did not trust themselves to make tactical substitutions. Nemanja Matic seems to be a lanky Serbian security blanket for his third manager in a row.
Chelsea’s substitutes have done everything they can to prove they belong on the pitch and change the game. Some of Chelsea’s starters make strong arguments for sitting them on the bench. What remains for Antonio Conte to make his changes earlier, and perhaps put Chelsea in the enviable position of protecting a comfortable lead?
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