da betway： A late goal from an unexpected source earned the Blues a draw in a game headlined by a young defender's fantastic performance
da apostebet： This was probably a glimpse into what Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea will look like when the Premier League starts. We're just over a week away, after all. The clock is ticking as players look to earn their place in Pochettino's go-to XI.
Well, one young star made his case. Levi Colwill, fresh off a new contract, was the standout in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday as he anchored the Chelsea defence alongside the veteran Thiago Silva. The young star clearly features in Chelsea's future plans, but it's performances like this that will see him become a key player in the present.
On the opposite end of the spectrum was Christopher Nkunku, whose status for the Blues' Premier League opener against Liverpool will be in doubt after the ex-RB Leipzig star suffered an apparent knee injury.
Wednesday night's clash was, largely, a pretty tepid affair, one decided by two second-half goals. Marius Wolff got Dortmund's in the 80th minute, finishing off a move after Chelsea failed to properly clear a set-piece. That, though, was answered by young Maston Burstow, who got a goal of his own in the 89th minute to seal the draw.
GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at Soldier Field…
Getty ImagesHold your breath for Nkunku
It's the last thing anyone wants to see: a player down clutching his leg in a pre-season game. That was what we got midway through the first half, though, as Chelsea saw their new signing Nkunku go down with an injury.
The pitch conditions were at least partly to blame, adding even more frustration to the whole situation. The field looked to be a problem all night, so it just felt like an injury like this was on the cards.
Fortunately, it appears it isn't catastrophic. Nkunku was seen on the bench with an ice pack on his leg, a good sign, for sure. What it means for his immediate future is anyone's guess, though, with a season-opening clash with Liverpool just a week-and-a-half away.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesAll eyes on the striker situation
While one striker target, Dusan Vlahovic, was scoring for Juventus against Real Madrid, another got a chance to prove himself in Chelsea blue. Nicolas Jackson has outperformed expectations so far this pre-season, and he was active here. The summer signing had several chances to score and, on another night on another pitch, he might have gotten one or two.
Still, despite the lack of goals on this night, Jackson looks the part. He'll need time to adjust to the Premier League, for sure, but if this pre-season is any indication, he'll probably be just fine.
Another striker may come in; this is Chelsea, after all. If one doesn't, though, and the club starts the season with Jackson leading the line, they'll be starting the season with a player that certainly brings something fresh and something new to an attack that has needed just that for some time.
(C)Getty ImagesColwill shines after penning new deal
Call it the new contract bounce. Colwill recently committed his future to Chelsea, despite plenty of rumours linking him with a move away, and the Blues will certainly be happy that he did based on this performance.
Starting next to Thiago Silva, Colwill was cool as can be, fitting in nicely right next to the Brazilian legend. Silva, of course, was steady as always, but it was Colwill that was the standout central defender.
His passing opens up so many things for Chelsea, with Colwill joining Silva with his ability to break lines out of the back. Defensively, he was reliable, too, going toe-to-toe with a strong Dortmund attack throughout.
He's only 20, but they do say if you're good enough, you're old enough. Well, Colwill looks plenty good enough to play a role this season and in the years to come with his future at Stamford Bridge now clear.
Getty ImagesConcerns surround Sterling
It hasn't been Raheem Sterling's best pre-season, to say the least. The England star has struggled mightily, and this may have been his worst performance yet.
Sterling was all over the place on Wednesday night, establishing himself as the place Chelsea attacks went to die. There was very little that Sterling did right, only continuing on a worrying trend that has defined his preseason.
The ex-Manchester City man is meant to be a veteran figurehead in the attack, but is instead being totally outperformed by just about everyone around him. And, with just a few days left before the start of the season, pre-season rust can't be an excuse.
With so many attackers in the squad, and maybe even a few more on the way, is Sterling's starting spot in danger? On this form, it has to be, right?