Let’s get one thing straight: Hernan Crespo did not flop at Chelsea.
Chelsea may not have the best track record when it comes to signing strikers, with millions wasted on players with big reputations such as Andriy Shevchenko, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
And Crespo is often included on lists of expensive Premier League failures. Twenty-four goals from a world-class striker who remained on Chelsea’s books for five seasons certainly doesn’t scream success.
But calling the Argentina marksman a ‘flop’ would be a misdemeanour. A quick YouTube search for a collection of his Chelsea goals reveals a striker capable of scoring in a variety of different ways.
Poacher’s efforts that demonstrated his craft and intelligence, thumping headers where the ball hits the net as if directed by GPS, technically superb first-time shots that illustrated his incisiveness – they’re all there.
Despite the range of goals Crespo scored, two have stood the test of time and cause Chelsea fans to get goosebumps when recollecting them.
The first came on a sunny autumn afternoon at Highbury in 2003. Newly-minted Chelsea went into the game unbeaten but found themselves behind to Edu’s deflected free-kick.
Claudio Ranieri’s side would be behind for mere minutes. Geremi switched to the left and slipped a clever pass inside compatriot Lauren into Crespo’s path.
Without breaking stride, the long-haired goalscorer checked inside and won himself into space to lash a 25-yard shot past a startled Jens Lehmann and into the Arsenal net.
Clive Tyldesley was so excited that he managed to drown out the cries of the infamous Highbury screamer – on this occasion, such an exuberant response was fully justified.
🚀 This Hernan Crespo goal for Chelsea against Arsenal back in 2003 at Highbury was a screamer!@Crespo | @UberCheIseaFC pic.twitter.com/mmxls4LGrm
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) August 22, 2021
After that? Not much for almost two years. Crespo’s first season in English football was marred by injuries and he spent the 2004-05 season on loan at AC Milan.
In an interview with FourFourTwo in 2016, the striker recalled: “I said: ‘Look, Jose, this is very difficult, but if I have to choose between Chelsea and Milan then I’m going to choose Milan.’
“Jose replied: ‘OK, I’ll wait for you for one week. If in one week the Milan deal is not done, then you’ll stay at Chelsea. Because if you don’t stay then we have to go to the market to buy a…
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