Chelsea have fallen to a shock 1-0 defeat in their opening Champions League group game at the hands of Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb.
Mislav Orsic’s goal on the counter-attack proved to be enough for Dinamo Zagreb to get the better of the 2021 Champions League winners.
Reece James came close to scoring as he struck the post late on but the resolute hosts were deserving of the victory in the end.
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Thomas Tuchel’s rudderless and insipid Chelsea dominated the ball from first to last but proved worryingly toothless in the final third.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was denied a debut goal when he tapped in from Ben Chilwell’s cross only for the England full-back to be ruled offside from Mateo Kovacic’s pass.
New striker Aubameyang appeared tentative on his Blues bow, though the Gabon forward can be afforded leeway given he featured with a face mask to protect his broken jaw.
Chelsea’s other off-kilter charges can proffer precious little excuse however, amid the latest troublesome result for the Blues.
The new Stamford Bridge bosses might have spent a Premier League-record £273million in the summer transfer window, but this is still a team in transition.
Dinamo have never reached the Champions League knock-out stages, and yet the homespun hosts still had enough to see off the two-time tournament winners.
Chelsea have now gone six games without a clean sheet and boss Tuchel’s frustrations were encapsulated in another yellow card – following his sending-off in the 2-2 draw with Spurs.
Tuchel will need no telling that Chelsea must find momentum, and fast, to avoid the new era turning into a crossroads.
Mason Mount dropped into a new role in defensive midfield alongside Kovacic. A smart idea in theory from Tuchel, attempting to capitalise on Mount’s work rate and pressing ability.
But amid Chelsea’s wretched first half, the England international too often lost positional discipline, leaving glaring gaps for Dinamo to exploit.
Tuchel switched formations and ideas several times in a bid to turn the tide after the break, but Dinamo held firm as Chelsea again flailed at fluency.
Chelsea marched into early control through dominating possession, but several half-chances were left unfinished.
Debutant Aubameyang teed up Sterling only for the England forward’s shot to be well blocked. Aubameyang then looked for a square ball when he should have lined up a strike…
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