Player Ratings: Blues Booed Off Despite Europa Conference League Progress | OneFootball

Chelsea Squeeze Past Legia Warsaw But Questions Linger

In a tournament built for second chances and subplots, Chelsea have somehow made their way into the Europa Conference League semi-finals – but the mood around Stamford Bridge is far from celebratory. A 2-1 defeat to Legia Warsaw was enough to see the Blues through on aggregate, yet the nature of the performance did little to suggest anything resembling progress under Enzo Maresca.

Fast Start, Flimsy Response

The cushion from the first leg – a convincing 3-0 win in Warsaw – had been expected to afford Chelsea some breathing space. Instead, it became a crutch they leaned on heavily. The tone was set early, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen needlessly upending Tomas Pekhart inside the box. The striker picked himself up and slotted home from the spot, the ball squirming under the stand-in stopper.

It was a goal that stirred Legia rather than stunned them. Ryoya Morishita nearly doubled the advantage with a fizzing effort across goal, but the Polish side would soon regret not extending their lead further. From very little, Chelsea managed a leveller – Marc Cucurella tapping in from Jadon Sancho’s cross, the full-back’s first real impact in months. Moments before half-time, Cucurella had the ball in the net again, but VAR did its job and scrubbed it off for offside.

Capitulation or Caution

Early in the second half, Legia struck again. This time, it was centre-back Steve Kapuadi who rose highest from a corner and powered a header past Jorgensen. For a moment, the mood inside the Bridge shifted. What had seemed routine now felt precarious. Kapuadi then popped up at the other end to deny Tyrique George with a superb goalline clearance. George thought he’d scored minutes later, but once again, the flag ruled against Chelsea.

Despite the noise and nervousness, Legia didn’t do quite enough to overturn the aggregate score. Chelsea clung on with the sort of control that’s only noticeable in hindsight – they were never fully overrun, just never truly comfortable either.

The final whistle was met with a chorus of boos. Not for the first time this season, the outcome of the tie offered no real sense of momentum. For all the possession and expensive names on the team sheet, Chelsea looked stale. And with each uninspiring outing, the pressure around Maresca only tightens.

Manager Under Scrutiny

Maresca’s insistence on playing from the back, even when the press is suffocating and the confidence isn’t flowing, continues to invite criticism. This performance – not dissimilar from the one against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup exit – offered another layer of concern. There’s a rhythm to how Chelsea play, but it’s not a compelling one.

Progression to the semi-finals might offer the illusion of progress, but underneath the surface is a squad still unsure of itself, a coach searching for cohesion, and a crowd growing impatient. The competition may carry less prestige than others, but for a club of Chelsea’s stature, silverware – any silverware – is not just desired, it’s demanded.

Legia Warsaw Deserve Credit

It would be a disservice not to applaud Legia Warsaw’s courage. They arrived in London trailing by three but played as if it were level. Vladan Kovacevic was immense in goal, Kapuadi delivered a masterclass at both ends, and Maxi Oyedele ran the midfield with poise and precision. If anything, they looked like the side playing for a place in the final four, not simply chasing a miracle.

Player Ratings

Chelsea GK: Filip Jorgensen – 6RB: Josh Acheampong – 6CB: Tosin Adarabioyo – 6CB: Benoit Badiashile – 6LB: Marc Cucurella – 7DM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 6DM: Reece James – 7RM: Jadon Sancho – 8AM: Cole Palmer – 6LM: Christopher Nkunku – 7ST: Nicolas Jackson – 5SUB: Tyrique George – 6SUB: Noni Madueke – 6SUB: Malo Gusto – 7