Chelsea’s fans have this evening reacted in numbers to Mateo Kovacic’s brief spell as a regista during the Blues’ clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Chelsea’s cup ventures
Chelsea welcomed Championship outfit Wednesday to Stamford Bridge a short time ago, for an FA Cup 4th-round tie.
The capital giants headed into proceedings brimming with confidence, having secured their passage to the League Cup final courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over Tottenham on Thursday night.
Chelsea 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday
And the Blues’ return to form following their disappointing 2-0 loss at the hands of Arsenal last weekend continued this evening, with Chelsea having eventually emerged with a comfortable 3-0 win.
Willian put the hosts in front with 26 minutes on the clock, slotting home confidently from the penalty spot.
And this was how things remained until just past the hour-mark, when Callum Hudson-Odoi did brilliantly to control a pinpoint ball from Andreas Christensen, before cutting inside and finding the bottom corner of the Wednesday net.
LONDON, ENGLAND – January 27: Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea acknowledges the fans during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge on January 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Willian then went on to add some gloss to the scoreline with his second 10 minutes from time, combining well with substitute Olivier Giroud before slotting home off the inside of the post from the edge of the box.
‘Kovacic in the Jorginho role henceforth…’
In a routine outing for Chelsea, meanwhile, one intriguing development during the second-half saw Mateo Kovacic drop into a deep-lying ‘regista’ position, after Ethan Ampadu had struggled to fill the role generally carried out by Jorginho over the course of the opening 45 minutes.
The on-loan Croat, who has been deployed on either the right or left side of a midfield-3 by Maurizio Sarri thus far this season, impressed many at Stamford Bridge with his poise and control over the course of the second-half, with some having gone as far as to suggest that Kovacic should be handed the opportunity to showcase his talents in such a role moving forward, at Jorginho’s expense:
Ahhh Kovacic regista now that’s the way to go
— MoH☠⚽️🇱🇧 (@FfsChelsea) January 27, 2019
Kovacic is the perfect deputy for that Jorginho role, potentially a better option.
— We do Sarrismo (@THEKOFIESSEL) January 27, 2019
I really think Kovacic would be good in the Jorginho role. Is good w the short passes but tries the more daring passes as well. I also think he gives more bite defensively. Seems to be dropping into that role sometimes with Ampadu a bit positionally unaware so far @AlexGoldberg_
— Geoff (@puravidageoff) January 27, 2019
Kovacic is doing a fantastic job in that regista role.
— J.O.J (@OluJokotade) January 27, 2019
kovacic as regista is saucy
— BossPlayer☝️☝️☝️ (@Anawomah88) January 27, 2019
Kovacic is the perfect deputy for that Jorginho role, potentially a better option.
— We do Sarrismo (@THEKOFIESSEL) January 27, 2019
Kovacic playing better in that position of Jorginho better than Jorginho.
— MithrandiR NikolaJ (@NerdCage9) January 27, 2019
Jorginho hope you are watching Kovacic
— TONY ELUMELU IS MY ROLE MODEL (@Zegennn) January 27, 2019
Please, Kovacic in the jorginho role henceforth …thank you #sarri
— jaytee™ (@Johntojj) January 27, 2019
‘No idea how to play there either’
Others (albeit fewer), on the other hand, were not quite as impressed:
Kovacic too isn’t a regista
— Rafa (@RAFFAjnr) January 27, 2019
Kovacic no idea how to play there either. Jorginho is special man.
— S¹ (@SmlthSchuster) January 27, 2019
Kovacic isn’t any better as the deep midfielder. Weird.
— Kevin Kostka (@mpbx3003) January 27, 2019
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