Tyrique George completely absent – Three decisions Enzo Maresca got wrong for Chelsea vs Benfica
Enzo Maresca’s side limped to a first Champions League win of the season as Richard Rios’ own goal handed them a 1-0 victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge.
Benfica tested Robert Sanchez early on but soon found themselves behind as Rios turned the ball into his own net after Alejandro Garnacho had played it across the face of goal from Pedro Neto’s cross.
The game became a relatively open affair as time went on, but neither side really looked like scoring the game’s second, with Estevao and Fredrik Aursnes each going close but failing to test either Sanchez or Anatoliy Trubin.
The only other real moment of excitement came in added time at the end of the game as the Blues’ poor recent disciplinary record continued with Joao Pedro sent off for two bookable offences.
Enzo Maresca has been backed by the Chelsea board to continue as head-coach after three defeats in four games preceded this win, and even though his side came away with three points, he clearly got a few things wrong which saw them struggle throughout.
Tyrique George should not have started
Maresca surprisingly named Tyrique George in his eleven on Tuesday (30 September) for his first career start in the Champions League and only second start of this season so far.
George was set to join Fulham late in the summer window, but his move collapsed at the eleventh-hour and he was given the chance to impress against Benfica ahead of both Pedro and Marc Guiu.
He did not repay his head coach’s faith at all, as George failed to complete a dribble all game for Chelsea and had just 15 touches before being taken off in the 61st minute.
It was definitely a failed audition for the 19-year-old ahead of both of those strikers, and Maresca simply should not have picked him to start in such a tight, tough game.
Estevao should have started or come on at half-time
One of the Blues’ teenage attacking stars who did impress against Portuguese opposition was Brazilian winger Estevao.
The 18-year-old was left on the bench after starting against Brighton last time out, but he came on in the 54th minute and soon set about trying to make things happen as he drove forward with intent and looked a lot brighter than Pedro Neto and Facundo Buonanotte.
Estevao fashioned Chelsea’s best chance of the second-half with one of their few meaningful attempts on goal, and ended the game with all three of his dribbles completed and all of his tackles won, so it was clear that he deserved to start on the right wing, or at least come on earlier to make more of an impact.
Maresca failed to warn his players to improve their discipline
Chelsea’s poor discipline has led to their form suffering in the Premier League, with Sanchez sent off against Man United on 20 September before Trevoh Chalobah also received his marching orders last time out against Brighton.
They lost both of those games, and were lucky that Pedro’s red card was so late on in this clash that Benfica were unable to grab a leveller.
Enzo Fernandez was fortunate to stay on against Benfica as he committed a number of bookable offences, so they could have had two reds in this game to take their tally to four in as many matches.
Still, three in four is a pretty dismal record that simply must be improved if they are to do anything of note this season, and even though he cannot stop his players physically, Pedro’s sending off proves that Maresca has clearly failed to drill into his players that they have to improve their discipline going forward.