As we make giant strides towards the beginning of next season(Europe especially), teams are trying their possible best to gather enough morale ahead of their tedious tasks. New coaches are experimenting their options and of course testing their new signed players. There is no better way to achieve this than engaging in some friendly matches, and that's what Barcelona and Chelsea did earlier today, and it ended 1-2 in favour of the Blues.
There have been calls from Barcelona fans across the world for Ernesto Valverde to be sacked, after he failed to life the UEFA champions League and even lost the final of the Copa Del Rey last season. The Catalan coach appeared not in control of his squad and was most times painting the posture of a leader who knew not which path to follow. In fact, he depended so much on the magic of the Argentine captain Lionel Messi, and when Messi failed to bring up those moments of magic to save Barcelona from wreckage, Valverde couldn't invoke ingenuity as the coach.
This was evident in Liverpool's comeback against his side in the champions league last season. However, the Barcelona President didn't believe Barcelona's inability to win a trebble last season was Valverde's fault, and so he feels the Catalan manager needs more patience and time. His inability to utilize Barcelona's big signing from Liverpool Philippe Coutinho shows there is a big work for the manager ahead of next season. However, the Spanish giants have made some few signings to boost the team, one of them being the €120m Griezmann who joined earlier this month.
Coutinho's stellar performance at the just concluded Copa America that saw Brazil lift the trophy, shows that it's not really the fault of the player that he is not giving maximum impact at the Camp Nou, it's a managerial problem. With Messi still having some nice moments with his family after the inability of his Argentine side to make it the Copa final, it was an opportunity for most new signings and perhaps other players to warm up ahead of the season. Luis Suarez and Coutinho were not also in the squad that played Chelsea Earlier today, perhaps it's the post Copa Vacation.
Though their latest big signing from Athletico Madrid Griezmann made his debut for the La liga champions, he made very little impact as Valverde's Side still fell to a 2-1 friendly match defeat at Saitama. Griezmann was only allowed to play 45 minutes and in today's game against Frank Lampard's Chelsea. Though Preseason results have never been a parameter to judge how the season of a team will be, but a man like Lampard whom so much is being expected of him will leave no stone unturned in making sure his side goes home with a win.
The Blues know the task that awaits them ahead of the season and beating Barcelona even though it's a friendly match, will go a long way to boost their morale. They've got teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and even Manchester United to contend with for the Premier league trophy, and every win matters. Also, Lampard wants the fans to have confidence in him and his ability to carry the team, these preseason victories will go a long way to reduce their fears towards the young manager.
Generally, it was an interesting game and goals from Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley was all Chelsea needed to crown their Tuesday effort with glory against Barcelona. The Spanish club had appeared a bit a control when the game started, but the blues came for the result and they took it. Though Rakitic scored a magnificent goal from outside the 18 yard box, it was only good for it's Awesomeness and couldn't stop Chelsea from winning. Congratulations Lampard and Chelsea!
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