Just one chaos‑free day at work, is that too much to ask? For Mauricio Pochettino the answer, it seems, is a resounding “yes”. Around the corner Chelsea go, taking a turn that looks from the outside to be the right one. Then, inexplicably, they double back.
It appeared, as Bramall Lane began to empty, that a largely tepid performance would at least bring the result Pochettino required against Sheffield United. Then Chelsea stuttered. Again. Even having led twice against a side relegated in all but ceremony. Even having – courtesy of Noni Madueke’s second-half strike – been within two stoppage‑time minutes of three points. So close, and yet absolutely miles away.
Pochettino is a savvy man. He knows full well that if, at some future point, the chaotic, wonderful win against Manchester United last Thursday is to be viewed not just as a mere moment but as a meaningful one, it must be built upon.
Did those midweek heroics perhaps sap his players of energy?
“Of course, they were tired but that is not an excuse today not to win the game at the end,” Pochettino said.
“Watching football, as a 52‑year‑old, you identify very quickly when a team is ready to compete or not. Today that happened. Maybe because this group is not mature enough to compete every single game, every three days.”
Still, with a 2-1 lead, all Chelsea had to do was see out added time. But in the third of those, rather than wasting seconds, they wasted several chances to clear. Costly? Yes. Gustavo Hamer wanted to win his header on the edge of the area more than Mykhailo Mudryk; Cameron Archer, on as a substitute, flicked the ball on; Oli McBurnie sent the Kop wild.
And so, for a seventh consecutive match, Chelsea had both scored and conceded at least twice. That is about as sustainable as fracking.
“I think a draw was a fair result if you analyse the game,” Pochettino said. “At the end, we didn’t show the capacity to be solid, to be strong. That is the most painful thing.”
Without meaning to be unkind, when seeking a low‑key evening, the Blades would be the opponents picked by most Premier League managers. Rarely in the top flight has there been a more porous defence than United’s. Chelsea’s early opener was a case in point. Conor Gallagher’s corner was clipped toward the penalty spot. It was a decent cross, no real whip of venom on it, but accurate enough. There it was met by Thiago Silva who, surrounded by absolutely nobody, side‑footed past Ivo Grbic.
The Brazilian was starting for the first time since February, and it may well be his last Chelsea goal, what with him being 38 and having a soon-to-expire contract. Pochettino insisted post-match that no decision had been taken on that front.
Silva’s goal was met not with visceral discontent but by a meek grumble from home fans. They know the script too well. Loved ones in and around the city will have received messages saying that match attendees would likely return home earlier than planned. Except that did not happen.
Cole Palmer – moved centrally to accommodate Madueke – did his utmost to get Chelsea going. There were some brilliant flashes, but nothing quite stuck.
And United showed some fight. They were lifted by Silva’s stray pass across goal midway through the first half. McBurnie intercepted and teed up Ben Brereton Díaz to shoot. With Djordje Petrovic already committed, only a block from Moisés Caicedo prevented a goal.
Next Hamer grabbed the strings. A lovely footballer, Hamer is one of few amongst United’s squad who might find a top-flight suitor come the summer. First, Hamer found his own space and tested Petrovic from range. Then, he set up United’s first equaliser. Hamer’s initial decision not to slip the overlapping Jayden Bogle in first time drew an audible groan. The local fuses are, quite understandably, short you see.
Hamer, though, knew precisely what he was doing. He paused. He found Bogle on Marc Cucurella’s blindside. The wing-back’s cross became a shot and beat Petrovic at the near post.
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United found something long since misplaced in that moment: belief. Indeed, so much so that they almost took a second-half lead. Alas, McBurnie headed agonisingly wide. Up went the volume.
Next, Ollie Arblaster teed up Hamer 20 yards out. The driven strike was sweet but into the side netting. “United” boomed around the ground as some robust challenges flew in.
But then Madueke danced in from the right and lashed past Grbic. Most assumed United’s balloon had popped. It had, at least, been fun while it lasted. McBurnie, though, reinflated it.
“For yourself, for your teammates, for the shirt, for the badge, for the supporters, you’ve got to really dig in,” Chris Wilder said of his side’s late rally. “I think everybody in the ground would have been incredibly disappointed if we hadn’t got a result from that effort.”
