Poor Ben Chilwell must have been kicking himself, watching Tuesday’s match from the bench.
The left back was suspended after a foolish – but understandable – red card in the first leg. But last night’s game was set up perfect for him.
Frank Lampard’s tactic was designed to give the wing backs as much space and attacking influence as possible, and while Reece James did his usual damage down the right, Marc Cucurella was not able to replicate that down the left
One moment in particular saw the Spaniard take a touch in front of goal which allowed Thibaut Courtois to scramble across and save. You just know Chilwell would have hit it first time.
Another saw Cucurella put a poor cross over everyone’s heads when he had all the time in the world to pick out his forwards. Chilwell would have found a teammate.
The result might not have changed, but one can’t help but feel his absence was even more of a blow in the end than we foresaw.
