Basel Faulty: Does Chelsea's Loss to Basel Mata?

Schar enjoying Van Ginkel more than the goal #awkward

As I attempted to press on triumphantly throughout the day, my performance suffered and I became increasingly less effective at the office. Eventually I succumbed to the forsaken -- man flu! After watching Chelsea’s performance tonight, it’s evident I wasn’t the only one struck down by this horrible disease!

Not to diminish the performance of Basel in any way as they looked the more threatening of the two in the first half. It was lucky that Chelsea took the lead at the half. Salah constantly tested Chelsea’s defence. Although at times this evening, even bed ridden, I may have been able to challenge Chelsea’s defence. It takes something pretty special for a goal to be the fault of three players.

Chelsea's Torrid Affair with Thursday Night Cup

We're in serious like - but not yet love

Dear Thursday Night Cup Europa League,

I can’t say that our continued affair right under the nose of your big brother would have lasted this long. We didn’t exactly get together in the best of circumstances. And if I’m being really honest, I was using you to make Champions League jealous after he so callously tossed us aside. Not that I’m annoyed that the honeymoon period was so short. (I am). But nevertheless, you’ve stayed with us even though, we have let ourselves go.

Chelsea's Loss is Thursday Night Cup's Gain

"Lost. But still winning sums up my career"

This space is usually reserved to question the tactics of the Interim One where he's made some creative decisions with the starting XI and the substitutions ... my god, the substitutions. A line up that features none other than Yossi Benayoun as the answer to the midfield dilemma would normally generate nothing but a lot of moaning. However, this was a team that ensured the tiny dynamic duo of Mata and Hazard could rest. This starting XI's only job was to not lose 2-0. But as they have done for most of the season under the Interim One's guidance, they came near as anyone could to c*cking the whole thing up.

English teams collectively decided that Champions League was overrated and Thursday Night Cup was where it was at. With three teams left to represent the best league in the world* it was all to play for. And two of those three teams certainly did. Chelsea was not one of the two. In fact, Chelsea were the only losing side last night and somehow - and by somehow I mean heading to Moscow with a sizeable lead - are the last man standing left to represent England in Europe for the second season running.

Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest: Torres Bleeding Blue*

"Woah. What do you mean this isn't Big Cup?"

The biggest shock in and around Stamford Bridge was not the ridiculous amounts of denim and zippers parading about but in the lineup. For one of the few times in his all to long tenure, Benitez looked to have picked a team that should have been up to the task from the get go. Some of us would not have rested Ivanovic, but nevermind. Mikel and Terry were restored to the starting lineup and it -should- have all gone smoothly. But with Chelsea, they never make anything easy on themselves, and the first half performance was a testament to that. After giving themselves a 2 goal hole to dig themselves out of this past weekend, why not do it all again?!?

A shocking number of supporters opted to give this one a miss. The Rafa effect finally taking hold? The fact that Chelsea have played more than some teams have played in a couple of seasons combined? But only twenty-eight thousand opted to take in Thursday Night Cup action at the Bridge last night. And with the large number of Romanians buying half and half scarves to try and sneak in the home stands and largely being turned away by those savvy stewards its amazing there was anyone in the ground at all to hear the stadium announcer welcome the visitors from the Czech Republic. You can imagine how ruffled that denim got upon hearing that. Oh, and then there was the match.