Reflections on Chelsea's 3-1 Win Against Rubin Kazan

Chelsea’s bid for a “Treble” continues apace.

The Blues, of course, are already in the semifinals of the FA Cup, have every chance of making the top four in the Premier League, and on Thursday night, planted one leg firmly in the semifinals of the Europa League with a comfortable home 3-1 win over Russian side Rubin Kazan.

If we accept Arsene Wenger’s argument that gaining qualification for the Champions League is like winning a cup, then Chelsea still have every possibility of parading three trophies around Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. True, one of them will be invisible, and the players won’t get any medals for winning it, but it will nonetheless be a trophy of sorts—a virtual trophy, if you like.

Encouragingly, the Blues’ impressive performance against Rubin suggested that the “Treble” is well within their grasp. The home side were bright and lively throughout and fully deserved to take a two-goal lead to Moscow for the second leg next week.

For more thoughts on the match, read on.

1. The Enigma That Is Fernando Torres

It was Winston Churchill who famously described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma,” and the same might very well be said of Fernando Torres.

On Thursday night, the Spanish striker was as lively as a Catherine wheel on Bonfire Night, darting here and there, leaping for headers, and running past defenders with ease.

Torres’ first goal was no classic—a scrambled effort he somehow managed to poke past the Rubin goalkeeper while he was sprawled on the ground—but the very fact that he had got on the scoresheet seemed to visibly energise him.

It was no surprise when he added a second midway through the second half, soaring above his marker to get on the end of Juan Mata’s cross and power a header high into the net.

To the delight of the fans at Stamford Bridge, there was no sign on Thursday night of the other Torres, who has mooched through much of the season looking tired, dejected, bored and unmotivated.

So, what caused the transformation? Even wise Winnie would surely struggle to explain it, were he still around to be asked his opinion on this great matter of our time.  

A Psychological Ploy That Might Work

It’s noticeable that Torres seems to up his game after he has scored. That was certainly the case against Rubin Kazan, and it was also true against Steaua Bucharest in the previous round of the Europa League.

On that occasion, he scored late and was full of beans for the remaining minutes, giving the Romanian defenders a torrid time. Yes, he missed a penalty, but the simple fact that he wanted to take the spot kick was a sign that he was brimming with confidence.

Let us suppose now that Torres could somehow be convinced that he has already scored before the match kicks off—how might that affect his overall display? Don’t be absurd, I hear a thousand voices cry, that’s just ridiculous. How can he “score” before the game has even started?

Well, obviously he can’t. And maybe Rafa Benitez telling him he has put the Blues 1-0 up in the dressing-room pre-match wouldn’t quite work. But what if Chelsea employed a hypnotherapist to give Torres the good news, surely that would have an effect?

It’s worth a try, I’d say.

So, Mr. Abramovich, why don’t you get on the phone to, say, Derren Brown, and try to sort something out?

3. An Uninspiring Figure

Rubin Kazan’s manager, one Kurban Berdyev, was a rather dour character, it has to be said. For most of the match, he sat on the bench fiddling with a string of worry beads, while giving the impression that he’d just about prefer to be anywhere else other than at Stamford Bridge.

In the post-match press conference, he had the demeanour of a man who has just been told that he will be spending the next few years doing hard labour in a Siberian salt mine.

He mumbled a few words about his team not giving up in the second leg and thanked the hardy band of 47 Kazan fans who had travelled over from Tatarstan for the game, but to say it was an uninspiring performance by the bald 60-year-old would be an understatement. This was a man who would make the lugubrious Avram Grant look charismatic.

Let’s hope that Roman Abramovich doesn’t decide that what the current Chelsea side needs is a spot of Soviet-era Russian discipline. Because if he plumps for the morose Berdyev as the next Blues boss—an unlikely scenario, admittedly—then there won’t be many laughs around the Bridge next season.

4. One Team in Europe!

Thursday was a good night all around for Chelsea. The team played well, no new injuries were picked up and the other Europa League results raised a cheer in the stands.

Yes, it was a pity that Tottenham came back from two goals down to earn a draw against Basel, but there is every chance that the Swiss side will finish the job on home turf in the second leg. The injuries to Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon, meanwhile, are a big blow to the north Londoners as they chase a Champions League slot next season.

Newcastle, too, look set to be heading out of the competition after a 3-1 defeat away to Benfica. The Magpies’ quest for a first major trophy since 1969 is one of the longest-running storylines in the soap opera that is English football, and it would be a bit of a shame if it came to an end this term.

Although there may be a few twists to come, the likelihood is that, this time next week, Chelsea fans will be chanting “One team in Europe!” with their heroes being England’s only representatives left in continental competition.

Didn’t much the same thing happen last year? You know what, I think it did.    

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