James frustrates Bournemouth, but act of redemption cannot stop Chelsea's fall | first division

From title contenders to top-four hopefuls to reviving the underlying current of dissatisfaction with the club's management, the recent fall of Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel, on a scouting visit to England, will have seen some of the players he left behind in 2022. However, he will have been reminded of the ongoing danger the Chelsea boss is in.

The prestige of Enzo Maresca, who was previously the pair of safe hands guiding the Chelsea project, is faltering after five games without a win. Chelsea paid for a combination of insensitivity and waste against a basic team Bournemouth. “The game was completely under our control,” Maresca said. “And it's something we need to improve.”

It took an injury-time free kick from Reece James (openly criticized by Maresca, with his Chelsea career plagued by injuries, a survivor of the Tuchel era) to avoid defeat. The club captain's first goal in the Premier League since that day in August 2022 when Tuchel and Antonio Conte tangled over a handshake. “I haven't had that feeling in a long time,” James said, acknowledging, “I need to get back to playing a bunch of games.”

Chelsea's heavy hand had created chances from the first seconds, first Enzo Fernández lost his balance when the goal was close. Meanwhile, Bournemouth's David Brooks had already taken a hit from Marc Cucurella. That was revisited in the second half, when Brooks escaped a red card (referee Rob Jones watching the infringement on screen) when he appeared to tackle Cucurella by the hair. “How can you give this?” Maresca said, furious when the yellow was shaken.

“There is no violence,” said Iraola, as anger was diverted towards Cucurella for the defender's role in disrupting the Bournemouth wall during James' free-kick. “Cucurella is touching (Antoine) Semenyo and they scored.”

Still, I was happy with the result. “When you consider how Chelsea played and how we played, I don't think we deserved to win.”

Chelsea's first goal came quickly, Cole Palmer's shot full of arrogance that was not sustained even though Iraola's selection reflected a team carrying a heavy load; Only 12 veteran players to call on, no forwards.

In the spirit of the January window, Spanish-Dutch teenager Dean Huijsen is one of four Bournemouth starters currently linked with Chelsea, along with Milos Kerkez, Semenyo and Illia Zabarnyi. Each of them, except perhaps Zabarnyi, rotated by Jackson for the opener, added value.

Chelsea's desire to sell Axel Disasi opens the door for Josh Acheampong in defence. The teenager is understood to be admired among the club's hierarchy, although he was guilty of Bournemouth's second goal. As the club's public address announcer gushed at Stamford Bridge's Americanized pre-match festivities, kissing cam included, the average age of the Chelsea squad is under 23.

Maresca could make 10 changes from the weekend's ride through Morecambe. That luxury was not afforded for Iraola, forced to bring on the only senior substitute, Justin Kluivert, once James Hill stopped after just 20 minutes. Lewis Cook, the captain, played as an emergency full-back and excelled.

Nicolas Jackson's unreliable side was on display after Noni Madueke took advantage of a horribly wasted opportunity. Iraola's shoulders then slumped after Kluivert hit the post and then Chelsea responded on a counterattack that ended with Jackson hitting the post. “We can't play as slow as we were playing,” said the Basque.

After 13 shots in the first half following that Kluivert goal, Chelsea should have been able to put an end to their recent woes. “We came in and the coach was not happy,” said Semenyo, who soon converted Moisés Caicedo, another midfielder on the side, to earn a penalty. Kluivert, having scored three penalties against Wolves, comfortably sent Robert Sánchez the wrong way.

As if Maresca were belatedly correcting a player out of position, James was replaced, Caicedo returned to midfield as Bournemouth brimmed with vitality and vigour, Brooks' clash with Cucurella a prime example.

Maresca was scratching his skull at Guardiola's exasperation when Jackson failed to close down Ryan Christie. Acheampong's pullback showed Semenyo an inside route to goal that the Chelsea-born striker did not pass up. “A change and a shot,” Semenyo said. “I knew what I was going to do.”

After several Chelsea panic buttons had been pressed and despite James' personal redemption, full-time was greeted with audible, sinking indifference. Tuchel, with his seat already empty, would undoubtedly recognize him.