5 talking points as Chelsea stars bid farewell and fans make feelings clear
The curtain fell on Frank Lampard’s second spell as Chelsea’s head coach as a host of players said farewell to the Stamford Bridge crowd on an afternoon when Champions League bound Newcastle United went through the motions.
Under a warm late afternoon sun Anthony Gordon had given the visitors a ninth-minute lead only for Kieran Trippier to concede an unfortunate own goal by bundling the ball into his own net after 27.
In pursuit of a winner, both teams went on to create a number of half chances but it ended level as Newcastle toasted a campaign that delivered beyond all expectations and Chelsea said good riddance to a dismal nine months.
Here are the talking points from Stamford Bridge.
Farewells all over
Beyond anything else this was a day of goodbyes.
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Cesar Azpilicueta, who has a year left on his contract but expected to move on after a decade at the club, saluted the Chelsea supporters who raised a big flag calling him a legend before kick-off, while another banner moved across the opposite side of Stamford Bridge toasting the departing Lampard, who had his name chanted on a number of occasions despite a desperate spell in interim charge.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with one year left on his contract but interest from a number of clubs including Milan, pointedly applauded all four sides of the ground as he was substituted on the hour mark. Mateo Kovacic entered nine minutes later for what is expected to be his final appearance.
And then there was the fringe cast huddled cramped behind the home dugout. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang sat expressionless behind sunglasses, with Hakim Ziyech to one side and Mason Mount, who could (in the latest baffling decision from the club hierarchy) end up being sold, to the other. That is before mentioning N’Golo Kante, in a near perpetual state of unavailability, seeing his contract expire next month or Joao Felix and Denis Zakaria coming to the end of their loan spells.
And such is the bloatedness of Chelsea’s squad, there will be further departures.
Madueke claim for role in new era
The England Under-21 winger was not the most heralded of the January arrivals but he has shown flashes of promise in his fleeting moments. At half the price of Mykhaylo Mudryk, he has so far certainly delivered more bang for Todd Boehly’s buck. This afternoon there were a number of threatening dribbles down the right flank. If he can improve his crossing and develop a knack for cutting in and getting a shot off, it seems rather obvious that he has a future under expected new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea is put under pressure by Alexander Isak of Newcastle United.Isak class becomes clearer
Eddie Howe has made it clear that Newcastle will look to sign big names this summer as they aim to make their mark on the Champions League but there should be no need to focus on centre forward.
Alexander Isak missed about a third of the campaign with a thigh injury but he has finished it with the sense that every week becomes a little more comfortable.
And during some moments of lovely interplay this afternoon it was hard not to think that he is exactly the type of player Chelsea have been crying out for but proven unable to sign despite the lavish expense elsewhere. And that is before factoring in that Newcastle were able to bring Callum Wilson off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
Award-winning Silva showing signs of rust
Thiago Silva was given a piece of glass to commemorate him being named Chelsea’s player of the season in an odd, half-hearted ceremony before kick-off after the club decided to scrap their awards night. And while it is hard to name any player more deserving than the Brazil veteran, there was a mildly embarrassing moment late in the first half where he showed signs of age.
Fabian Schar, on a foray forward, dribbled past Silva with such ease that the Chelsea man fell over as he attempted to recover. He is beginning to show inevitable signs of ageing and is no longer the unruffled, unbeatable rock of old.
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Dubravka’s audition for something
Martin Dubravka began this season moving to Manchester United on loan with a belief that he could challenge David de Gea to become first-choice at Old Trafford..But it soon turned pear-shaped, De Gea began to excel again and he returned to St James’ Park in January after one appearance in the League Cup.
In the intervening five months he has had one appearance off the bench, when Nick Pope was sent off against Liverpool in mid-February, and has been warming the bench since then.
Until this afternoon. With Pope injured, the Slovakian got the nod over Loris Karius to deputise and delivered a performance full of character - otherwise known as over-elaborate dives for the cameras - with the only …
With two years left on his contract, the 34-year-old’s future remains uncertain. Eddie Howe wants him to stay, and Champions League football should mean added minutes for whoever ends up being second-choice, but Dubravka’s agents made it clear they wanted to get him a permanent move last summer.
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