Chelsea: Ramires and “Benitez’s super tactics”

(Baonghean.vn) -The result of Chelsea's smooth and creative "super tactics" against Benfica in the Europa League final was well-deserved praise for Lampard's superb performance (two spectacular shots), Mata's (two assists), and Torres' perfect acceleration leading to the opening goal. But there was an unsung hero in this breathtaking match who deserves mention: midfielder Ramires.

At Chelsea, the familiar term "man with no lungs" has long been used to describe Lampard, and that's not inaccurate. However, age has forced him to only "go all out" at certain times, while the player who consistently maintains his stamina to accelerate throughout matches is Ramires. In both the Premier League and the Europa League, Ramires excels in both defensive and counter-attacking roles, leaving opponents with no time to react.

Ramires (in blue) played brilliantly in the Europa League final.
Photo: Internet - LT

Remember, in last season's Champions League semi-final second leg at Camp Nou, the counter-attack that led to Ramires's skillful lob showcased his undeniable strength and talent when his team was under constant pressure.

In this Europa League final, Ramires wasn't deployed in a defensive role but rather on the right side of the midfield. Throughout both halves, Chelsea deliberately ceded control of the game to Benfica, partly because their opponents were too strong in possession and passing, except for finishing, and partly because Chelsea had learned their lesson from bitter defeats in the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup finals earlier in the season. Furthermore, without their key player Hazard, quick and decisive attacking moves were impossible against a team with such a strong Latin American style as Benfica.

It seemed that the second half was when Benitez would unleash his full potential to regain control of the game, and although Ramires and Osca pushed forward whenever they had the chance, Chelsea appeared to patiently wait, even accepting extra time and relying on a penalty shootout. Benitez undoubtedly placed his hopes and gambled everything on Torres, a player known for his performances in major finals, and that belief was deservedly rewarded with a goal that seemed to come out of nowhere in the first half of the second half.

But Azpilicueta's clumsiness this season (Chelsea have suffered from errors by their worst full-backs in many seasons) has forced Benitez to look for other options. And that has been Ramires' frequent runs down the right wing, after receiving sharp counter-attacking passes from Mata.

Fortunately for Benitez, Ramires' tireless runs, sometimes caught offside, sometimes blocked by opposing defenders, finally culminated in a crucial corner kick in injury time, perfectly executed by Ramires and the towering defenders Cahill, Ivanovic, and Luiz.

It seems Benfica's heartbreaking, tearful defeat against Chelsea was due more to the talent of their defenders than to their star players in the attacking line. It was the Chelsea defenders who successfully blocked Benfica's final shots, joined the attack, and scored at that crucial moment. And finally, Cahill, seemingly out of nowhere, quickly flicked the ball away from Cardozo's feet, after it had passed Ivanovic, past Ceh's control, and was just centimeters from the goal line and the empty net.

But ultimately, it's the quiet contributions of players like Ramires that matter. Without this player, who knows what Benitez and Chelsea would have been like during their unexpected yet ultimately successful Europa League campaign this season?

Phu Chau