Chelsea Shell-shocked at the AmEx
Graham Potter’s sour homecoming.
Two own-goals and a gracious finish from Trossard ended this bout in the first half of proceedings, making sure that Chelsea would leave the AmEx stadium with a different worldview, as Brighton won their first game under new coach, Roberto De Serbi.
The Seagulls made sure to stick it to their former coach, Graham Potter, last season’s Brighton's player of the season Marc Cucurella, and a number of coaching staff that all moved to Chelsea a few games into the season.
The evening would end with Brighton beating Chelsea 4-1 to snap Chelsea’s 9-game unbeaten run under their new Manager
Brighton
Brighton was sitting in fourth position in the league earlier this season when Chelsea infamously sacked Thomas Tuchel and hired the then-Seagulls manager, Graham Potter, who had led the team to the best-ever league position in the club's history last season. Seemingly on the rise, Brighton would hand Roberto De Serbi the reins to the club, to continue the good work.
Since the change though, Brighton had yet to win a game under the new Manager until Chelsea over the weekend. Surprisingly, they had also never won a game against the boys from “The Bridge” in fourteen tries, I guess Fifteen times the charm.
Leandro Trossard has been the only player to find the net for the Seagulls since the arrival of the new manager and scored 6 goals in 11 games in the league prior to the weekend’s feature
Chelsea
With injuries to key players in the squad, Chelsea has been looking shaky in a lot of games recently. Graham Potter has had to be very creative with his squad, trying different formations, and players in multiple positions. The newly appointed manager has even come under some criticism for over-rotation.
Chelsea under Potter in the league has won three times, drawn twice and now been handed their first defeat over the weekend. They have played better, but not convincing enough and it showed in this game.
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Form Entering the Game
Coming into this game, Brighton had lost to Pep’s City, three goals to one in a game that saw the Citizens unusually lose in possession and passes completed. Brighton came into this game, scoring only once in four games, and the new manager needed a performance from his players
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Chelsea on the other hand just came off a win in midweek but had an unconvincing draw at home to Manchester United. Sterling was still on his extended goalless drought and Kai Havertz was given the nod to start.
How the game progressed
Brighton started this game in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Trossard leading the line. While Chelsea started in their new, traditional 3-4-2-1. Players have shuffled around on both teams, with De Serbi taking off Welbeck and Veltman for Estupinan and Mitoma. Chelsea would change four players from their match against Manchester United, with Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Aubameyang, and Ben Chilwell giving way for Pulisic, Kovacic, Kai, and Conor Gallagher.
The host would come at Chelsea early on in this match, with the ageless Thiago Silva clearing two chances off the line before the host eventually drew blood in just 5 mins. Chelsea would be Two down in fifteen minutes with an own goal off the knee of Loftus Cheek. It took Chelsea over twenty minutes to get into this game and start creating their chances but couldn't convert.
The highlight of this period for Chelsea and a turn in the tide of the game came when the Brighton Stopper, Sanchez, saved a chance off Gallagher, less than 12 yards from goal.
The half would though end 3-0 with another own goal from Chelsea, this time for Trevoh Chalobah. This would prove insurmountable for Potter’s men, and the game would end with a three-goal difference at 4-1 with Havertz securing the consolation early on in the second half for Chelsea though Chelsea was the better team throughout the second half.
It's worth noting that The Brighton fans made their feelings very known to Marc Cucurella during the game, not failing to boo or hackle him every time he touched the ball.
Lessons from the match
Brighton will hope that this would be a change in their fortunes and that the goals would begin to come flooding in. De Serbi also would have noted the use of pace and set pieces to get on the scoresheet.
Chelsea though would have to figure out their wing-back problem, and Graham Potter will have to settle on his preferred Attacking players without compromising defense. Brighton might have scored two own goals but, they attacked enough to get the ball into dangerous positions.
Brighton took their chances and secured their first-ever win against Chelsea and will need that same will when they face Wolves. Chelsea welcomes Arsenal to the bridge and Arteta’s side would be hoping to compound Chelsea’s recent woes to stay above City when they face each other in the London Derby