Fenerbahçe 2 – Chelsea 1 (tactical assessment)

By: Sam | April 3rd, 2008

Game of two halves.

Chelsea opened very much themselves, although with a lonely Drogba the sole point and without a whole-hearted commitment forward. The own-goal caroming in off the tentative Deivid was a stroke of luck that rewarded the typical Chelsea heavy-breathing endeavor and quite a startling lack of variation, subtlety & ideas in the forward third.

Deivid v Makalele

The Turks — who are more Brazilian in character & style — layed back. Their mentor, Zico, looked to have made sure the mass of the gialloneri midfield stayed goal-side the fearsome Chelsea wishbone of Makelele, Lampard & Ballack.

The wishbone — Claude the fulcrum behind with Frank & Michael the two forward prongs — is something of a meat-grinder or inelegant black hole in the center of the pitch. Anything that goes in comes out smaller, in a different shape or in a different galaxy. This is one of Chelsea’s unique strengths. With the meat-grinder churning, it is difficult to compose a move through the middle to get behind the well-shaped Blue back four.

So, in the 2nd half — totally different complexion — it was nothing short of genius when Fenerbahçe, one goal down, came out hellbent looking a totally different side, taking the game over and working the flanks in total avoidance of the meat-grinder. It’s difficult to recall Ballack or Lampard seeing much ball.

Although there was some good Chelsea counter-possession which will have alarmed Zico, that was when Chelsea failed to put the game on ice.

Aurelio is Fenerbahçe’s meistro. He was the master: here, there & everywhere. He was the Zidane, channeling every move on the night. So it was no surprise when Carvahlio nodded off on one quick loss of possession at the center stripe that Aurelio subtly chipped, picking out Kazim on a sly ghosting run. Kazim, who’s played in England, settled and finished a firm half-volley before Chelsea could re-set.

Chelsea were so discomfited, so rigid & ill-adapted in the second half to Fenerbahçe’s different character, that it was completely logical for Deivid to try an off-balance 30-yarder, hit it well and right his earlier mistake with a strike that seemed to swerve to allude Carlo Cudicini, again on his right; Cudicini, who cannot be blamed as the Turkish throng roared in an amazing guttural howl that sounded more like an earthquake at Istanbul’s Sükrü Saraçoglu.

Chelsea did not play badly until Fenerbahçe took the game, so criticism will be overharsh.

These first legs were orderly, tidy and absorbing football. Teams were constructive and positive. Reffing was excellent.

I leave this Istanbul night with much respect for the focus, purpose & adaptability displayed by Fenerbahçe. They have a slight advantage coming to Stamford Bridge but there will be enough to play for that we’ll see more of their cleverness there — hopefully for more than 40 minutes.

Chelsea must be more flexible, give Drogba more help and calm their nerves around the box when it’s time to get behind a defense. If Chelsea can’t show more subtlety, Grant will be gone in June.