ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN silenced his noisy neighbours and ended a seven-year wait to score a goal for Chelsea. The Danish defender kickstarted a one-sided romp against the hopeless Swedes with a classy volley in the ninth minute to finally hit the net in his 137th game. And judging by the way the grinning centre-half charged towards […]
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN silenced his noisy neighbours and ended a seven-year wait to score a goal for Chelsea.
The Danish defender kickstarted a one-sided romp against the hopeless Swedes with a classy volley in the ninth minute to finally hit the net in his 137th game.
And judging by the way the grinning centre-half charged towards the away fans in celebration, he took special pleasure in getting one over on Denmark’s Scandinavian rivals.
Christensen made his debut on October 28, 2014, and has been away to Germany on loan and back again before at last getting a goal for the club has been contracted to since the age of 15.
Now 25, it was a particularly big moment to break his duck because from then on Chelsea embarked upon a rain-soaked exhibition match that had Stamford Bridge buzzing with a performance that should reignite previously sagging confidence levels in the camp.
Boss Thomas Tuchel complained that despite his team being top of the Premier League, there was little joy in his squad.
The way his team zipped across the greasy surface at Stamford Bridge must have given him some warmth as he turned his collar to the driving rain that accompanied this thrashing.
It didn’t stop the hard-to-please German from launching one extraordinary rant at his players in the first half though, when one stray crossfield ball skidded away from Antonio Rudiger for a throw-in.
Some people aren’t happy unless they are miserable.
Christensen’s unbridled glee at putting his team ahead just when it needed an injection of life spread throughout the team.
Mason Mount, returning to the team after being rested on Saturday, fired close over the bar from a free kick. Romelu Lukaku was unlucky with a deflected shot that forced a one-handed save from Johan Dahlin.
Malmo could not get out of their half and looked content with that. This was shooting practice for a Chelsea team which needed to get frustration out of its system.
Taking into account Malmo’s big new signing Sergio Pena was making his first start after an £840,000 signing, the chasm in class is no surprise.
For £97.5 million worth of goods was sent tumbling to the deck when club-record signing Lukaku was fouled for the penalty that ultimately wrapped up three points for Chelsea after just 21 minutes.
Jorginho planted home the spot kick and did so again in the second half – against sub keeper Ismael Diawarsa, as the Malmo players escaped this hiding whichever way they could.
But while there is a feelgood factor about a comprehensive pumping, injury to Lukaku and to Timo Werner is a concern.
Tuchel has complained that his brilliant centre forward has been overplayed by Belgium through a marathon summer of international football.
With the way he limped off with less than a quarter of the game played, there could be an enforced rest coming his way.
It is a shame for Lukaku as he had failed to score in six games for Chelsea and if ever there was ideal opposition for getting back in the goals it was this rabble.
Werner has scored just one Premier League goal since April and is clearly not trusted to lead the forward line.
It was for that reason that Kai Havertz, another German who can’t quite hit the right notes at present who came on to play in a false nine role.
Havertz had one shot narrowly flash past the left hand post in the first half but with just a couple of minutes remaining until the break, the injury count ratcheted up further.
With no player within a two metre radius, Werner’s left hamstring pinged and after lengthy treatment the German hobbled off – further depleting Tuchel’s rapidly declining stock of forwards as they head towards the weekend.
Luck may be on Tuchel’s side though.
Winless, witless Norwich come to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, followed by fellow cannon fodder Newcastle and Burnley then Leicester in a relatively easy run of league fixtures while the injuries are patched up.
Werner’s substitution granted Callum Hudson-Odoi a chance to shine and the energetic winger made his presence count just three minutes after the break.
After a lung-busting run through the heart of Malmo’s defence, he unselfishly slipped the ball left for Havertz to chip replacement keeper Ismael to make it 3-0.
Jorginho’s second spot kick goal was just icing on the cake when he slammed home from 12 yards after Rudiger was sent tumbling.
Tuchel needed a good night to bounce back from defeat in the last Champions League match against Juventus and he got one.
But a late winner for the Group H’s Italian leaders at Zenit St-Petersburg means Chelsea remain second at the halfway point of the group stage.
