John McGinn’s strike within the seventh minute was sufficient at hand Aston Villa a slender 1-0 win in opposition to Chelsea of their mid-World Cup pleasant in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The competition gave Graham Potter and new Aston Villa boss Unai Emery the proper alternative to work on recent ways and methods forward of the Premier League’s restart on December 26.
Kids Lewis Corridor and Omari Hutchinson impressed for the Blues as Potter named a youthful facet, whereas Emery opted for expertise in a bid to construct momentum with the primary group.
John McGinn’s strike after simply seven minutes was sufficient to provide Aston Villa the 1-0 victory
Nonetheless, the Al Nahyan Stadium fell silent however for screams of agony from Armando Broja halfway via the primary half, because the striker collided with Ezri Konsa and immediately hit the ground clutching his knee.
Broja was carried off on a stretcher by Chelsea’s medical workers, including to Potter’s harm woes through the World Cup break.
Sportsmail has cast a listing of 5 issues we discovered through the mid-season pleasant in Abu Dhabi, because the Premier League sides gear up for the restart.
Chelsea set for a striker disaster
Having now scored simply three objectives of their final six matches throughout all competitions, Chelsea little question want to enhance their attacking output.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling have been introduced on this summer season to attain objectives in plentiful provide for the Blues, however sadly it hasn’t fairly labored out for the forwards thus far.
Now, to make issues worse, second-choice striker Broja, who has earned two league begins and 10 appearances off the bench this marketing campaign, is in for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Whereas there’s nonetheless hope for the striker, who is about to endure a collection of scans in pursuit of a prognosis, it’s feared he could have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament harm, primarily based on his preliminary response on the pitch.
If an ACL tear is confirmed, Broja will doubtless miss the rest of the season.
With Aubameyang’s deputy out and Kai Havertz but to persuade as an out-and-out striker, Potter will certainly knock on Todd Boehly’s door forward of the January switch window in an effort to usher in a brand new ahead.
Armando Broja needed to be stretchered off following a collision with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa
Emery breathes recent life into his captain
The curse of the Aston Villa captain’s armband has seemingly continued this season, with new skipper McGinn struggling for performances underneath Steven Gerrard within the early levels of the marketing campaign.
Having stripped Tyrone Mings of captaincy on account of his poor shows, Gerrard entrusted McGinn to put on the duty and Emery has seen no cause to change the management of his facet.
In opposition to Chelsea, McGinn lastly gave the impression to be having fun with the position, marshalling the engine room with dedication and communication.
His personal particular person efficiency impressed as nicely. Not solely did the midfielder present want to assist Ollie Watkins and discover area to tuck dwelling the profitable purpose, he additionally saved Chelsea’s midfielders very quiet with decided defending.
McGinn was spectacular all through because the Aston Villa captain marshalled the engine room
Omari Hutchinson shines for Chelsea
He’s not at all the completed article but, however Hutchinson did loads to impress his supervisor in opposition to Aston Villa on Sunday.
With direct and fearless working, the winger frequently chopped inside to trigger left-back Lucas Digne a handful of issues on the suitable flank and virtually grabbed the equaliser with a chic effort that rattled the woodwork.
His slaloming runs have been simple on the attention and helped create area for the likes of Aubameyang and Broja substitute Dion Rankine in assault.
Nonetheless, it appeared the match was transferring too quick for Hutchinson at instances, which brought about him to overlook enjoying the proper last cross.
If he can enhance on his finish product, Chelsea could nicely have one more starlet on their fingers.
Omari Hutchinson signed from Arsenal in the summertime and regarded energetic all through the sport
Potter has a lot to ponder
It is exhausting to be too crucial of Chelsea in a mid-season pleasant with out most of their first group gamers, however the Blues gave up a number of alternatives halfway via the second half and will have conceded two or three extra.
Have been it not for sensible saves from Marcus Bettinelli, each Leon Bailey and Danny Ings would have slotted dwelling one-on-ones after breaching Chelsea’s defence with ease.
As is predicted with Potter’s groups, Chelsea have been cool and composed on the ball and almost caught Villa out off the ball with their excessive urgent recreation, however there gave the impression to be lapses in focus too typically through the match.
For Chelsea to show round their abysmal run of kind heading into the World Cup break, which noticed them 5 Premier League video games with out a win, Potter must work on the Blues’ defence form and efficiency in assault.
Graham Potter has quite a bit to do to show Chelsea’s disappointing pre-World Cup kind round
Mid-season break is nice for children
Though Aston Villa could not have utilised each teenager at Emery’s disposal, Potter was in a position to hand loads of youngsters important minutes with a lot of the squad concerned in or recovering from the World Cup in Qatar.
The managers may have little question taken be aware of some key performances, which they will surely not have accomplished earlier than through the hectic and chaotic common season.
Potter mentioned to Chelsea’s web site after the match: ‘We have had a unbelievable week (regardless of the defeat). Incredible to work with the boys which might be right here and the harm gamers have stepped their rehab on, which is sweet information.’
When requested about Hutchinson’s efficiency, Potter mentioned: ‘He regarded actually good, harmful. All through the sport he confirmed his high quality.
‘However he isn’t the one one. It was a spirited efficiency in opposition to an skilled Premier League facet. We had a whole lot of younger gamers, which was good.’
‘He regarded actually good, harmful’: Potter was impressed with the efficiency of Hutchinson
