In the blue corner, Todd Boehly. In the other blue corner, Behdad Eghbali. In the meantime, Enzo Maresca must get on with the business of winning football matches. As the Chelsea soap opera takes its latest plot twist, it turning out this club ain’t big enough for two billionaire egos, Maresca’s team put in a performance often just as dysfunctional as goings-on in the boardroom. And yet Christopher Nkunku’s late strike stole the south coast points.
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, as well-coached and energetic a team as can be found in the Premier League, had the better chances, playing the more progressive football. A game that might in future be best recalled for an inordinate amount of yellow cards shown by referee Anthony Taylor – a league record 14, plus Maresca – did not fall to the Basque’s team. Instead, the Frenchman, shaking off Bournemouth defenders, bundled home after a pass from Jadon Sancho, a fellow substitute, and like Nkunku, someone with plenty to prove.
“We are in a big club with big players,” said the goalscorer. “There is competition for positions. We just have to work hard.”
“The important thing is they’re ready when they get minutes,” said their manager. The pair’s late combination play rescued a team that, until late on, looked as united as the club suits. In the absence of Enzo Fernández and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, the raw, imposing figure of Renato Veiga partnered Moisés Caicedo and the pair struggled as Bournemouth created chances from the start. After Axel Disasi dithered, Evanilson came within a whisker of notching his first Premier League strike.
It did not come, the Brazilian later guilty of a weakly taken penalty. “He wants to score, for sure, but I will not focus on this, I am very happy with his performance,” said Iraola of his club-record signing. “We played very well, had more chances, pushed them and you have to punish them and we didn’t.”
The latest addition to Chelsea’s deluxe range of mercurial attackers, Sancho first watched from the sidelines as Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto flag flanked Cole Palmer. Adam Smith against Neto was a key first-half battleground the veteran of Bournemouth’s League One days won hands down.
While the referee bore the brunt of Chelsea’s fans’ unease – Taylor has shared history with them – its roots lay in the performance of their team. At last, on 33 minutes, Mark Travers, standing in for Kepa Arrizabalaga, ineligible against the parent club that doesn’t want him, was asked to make a save but Nicolas Jackson shot straight at the Ireland keeper.
Robert Sánchez, Kepa’s replacement, conceded the penalty to Evanilson then saved from the same player. Taylor had ruled the keeper fouled the Brazilian in what looked a 50-50 challenge after Wesley Fofana’s dreadfully under-clubbed back pass. A half that might have seen Bournemouth streets ahead instead closed goalless.
Six first-half bookings suggested a bad-tempered contest but was far more a result of Taylor’s fastidiousness. “I complained about a foul on Wesley Fofana which for me was quite clear but it can happen,” said Maresca of his part in the swell of yellow.
Half-time brought Sancho on. “Just being back playing, I’m grateful,” said the Manchester United outcast. “I’ve been working hard for this moment and I’m just happy I got my chance.”
Maresca said: “I have the feeling that Jadon is a guy who needs love. I know he has the desire to show the player that he is. I don’t see problems around Jadon, around João [Félix], I don’t see anything negative, to be honest.”
Bournemouth still made plenty of chances. Justin Kluivert forced another Sánchez save, a training ground free-kick routine led to Antoine Semenyo firing over, a deflected Ryan Christie shot pinged off the post. But that Bournemouth had tired from their efforts became apparent, and they retrenched as Chelsea at last enjoyed the comfort of dominating possession.
The hapless but game Jackson was removed for Nkunku. “We lacked quality in the box,” said Maresca. After Sancho cut inside, a player whose time at Chelsea has been marred by injury and the attendant uncertainty of the club itself scored his vindicating goal. It underlined that whoever wins the civil war, Chelsea have stockpiled enough talent for Maresca to build a proper team.
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