‘We knew people were looking at us after the weekend’: Ben Chilwell delighted with Chelsea’s clean sheet in Champions League draw with Sevilla as Joe Cole hails the ‘resoluteness’ of Frank Lampard’s side
Ben Chilwell claims Chelsea can still feel positive following their opening Champions League group game despite only gaining a 0-0 draw at home to Sevilla.
The Blues are big favourties to progress from a group that also features Rennes and Krasnodar, and on paper the Spanish side are likely to pose their biggest threat.
But Chelsea went into the match having twice blown the lead to draw 3-3 against Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, including conceding a last-minute strike.
Ben Chilwell played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s Champions League draw with Sevilla
The Blues had previously come underfire following sloppy defensive performances this term
The left back played the full 90 minutes against Sevilla on Tuesday night and felt the Blues could take big positives from shutting out the Europa League holders.
‘It was important to get a clean sheet. We knew people were looking at us after the weekend, and we were defensively solid today,’ Chilwell said on BT Sport 3.
‘It would have been nice to get a win at home, but we will take the draw.
‘There were moments where we were under pressure, but the whole team were organised and all put a shift in, defensively as a team it was very good.
But Frank Lampard’s side put in a professional display to earn a 0-0 draw with Sevilla
Chilwell was part of a summer spending spree that saw Chelsea spend over £220million, with veteran defender Thiago Silva also coming in on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea had previously kept just two clean sheets from their first seven games this season and only one of those came against a top-flight side when they defeated Crystal Palace 4-0 at Stamford Bridge at the start of the month.
So the former Leicester City full back admits expectations are high at Stamford Bridge this term.
Summer arrival Edouard Mendy came into the side in goal to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga
Veteran defender Thiago Silva was also recalled for the opening night in Champions League
‘We are Chelsea, you expect a clean sheet, so you are going to get criticism,’ he added.
‘It was important to keep working hard on the training pitch and we showed that defensively we are a good outfit.’
Former Blues midfielder Joe Cole agreed with Chilwell, as he praised his former side for showing a more organised performance in defence.
Joe Cole was impressed with Chelsea’s defensive play in the 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge
Cole, who won three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge praised Chilwell’s contribution to a backline that featured fellow new signing Silva as well as goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
‘Ben nailed it when talking about the organisation,’ Cole also told BT Sport. ‘The resoluteness of the team was outstanding. They got it right tonight. Chilwell was outstanding. If you’re going to win games, you have to keep clean sheets. You have to do the ugly things.
‘Having the three new signings, it made such a difference. You can see the pride they took in that. The whole team engaged together as a unit. They saw the problem and dealt with it.’
