Chelsea: Reece James and Hakim Ziyech’s free-kick spat sums up Blues’ problems

Reece James and Hakim Ziyech’s Zagreb free-kick spat sums up Chelsea’s problems – with wantaway winger WINNING the row – as Andy Townsend says ‘it looks like Thomas Tuchel is fighting with his squad’

  • Chelsea’s Reece James and Hakim Ziyech argued over who should take free-kick
  • Ziyech had earlier smashed a promising set-piece prospect straight into the wall 
  • Defender James wanted to take the second one but the Moroccan pulled rank
  • The Blues suffered a shock 1-0 loss vs Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday
  • Andy Townsend said it looks like boss Thomas Tuchel is ‘fighting’ with the squad

Reece James and Hakim Ziyech argued on the pitch in Chelsea’s shock Champions League defeat against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Blues suffered a shock 1-0 loss against the Croatian side on Tuesday night to continue their shaky start to the season, with Mislav Orsic’s cute finish proving the difference between the sides.

And their woes in the Croatian capital were summed up by James and Ziyech’s angry spat over a late free-kick – with Andy Townsend adding it looks like frustrated boss Thomas Tuchel ‘looks like he’s fighting’ with the squad.

Reece James (right) and Hakim Ziyech (left) argued on the pitch in Chelsea’s shock Champions League 1-0 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb, summing up the tension at the club at the moment

The Blues were awarded a 96th-minute free-kick, offering them a chance to equalise late on

The Blues were awarded a 96th-minute free-kick, offering them a chance to equalise late on

One moment in particular at the Stadion Maksimir highlighted the tension in the squad, when Chelsea were awarded a 96th-minute free-kick from a promising position, giving them the chance to snatch a last-gasp equaliser.

Moroccan winger Ziyech – blasted by fans for his ‘disasterclass’ after coming on at half-time and failing to make an impact – having already curled a set-piece into the wall from 25 yards out, demanded he take this free-kick as well.

James, one of the few Chelsea players to emerge with some credit on the night, remonstrated with Ziyech, shrugging his shoulders frustratedly and trying to make his point – with captain Jorginho not stepping in to mediate.

Defender James wanted to take the set-piece after Ziyech had hit the last one into the wall

Defender James wanted to take the set-piece after Ziyech had hit the last one into the wall 

But the Moroccan pulled rank and insisted he take it, causing James to show his frustration

But the Moroccan pulled rank and insisted he take it, causing James to show his frustration

As winger Ziyech prepared to take the free-kick, James stood very close, hands on his hips

As winger Ziyech prepared to take the free-kick, James stood very close, hands on his hips

But the former Ajax wideman pulled rank, throwing his arms up in the air and covering his mouth before saying something to James, who then partially turned away and raised his hand in contempt, smiling humourlessly.

As Ziyech prepared to take the free-kick, Mason Mount stepped away, but James stood very close to the ball, hands on hips to show his clear frustration. Ziyech then hit the ball into the wall once again.

Pundit Martin Keown, speaking on BT Sport commentary, questioned: ‘Where’s the leadership there?’

It was a frustrating night for the Premier League side and Blues manager Thomas Tuchel (right)

It was a frustrating night for the Premier League side and Blues manager Thomas Tuchel (right)

And former Blues midfielder Townsend, working as a commentator for Talksport, said: ‘The balance isn’t quite there, the combinations aren’t quite clicking and working at the moment.

‘Tuchel looks like he’s fighting with the squad at the moment and doesn’t really know which one is the best way forwards.’ 

The German seethed after the match: ‘I’m angry with our performance. I’m angry with myself because I did not see it coming. I thought the team was prepared, I thought we know what this is all about. I didn’t see it coming, that’s why I’m angry.’

The German received a yellow card from referee Istvan Kovacs for dissent from the sidelines

The German received a yellow card from referee Istvan Kovacs for dissent from the sidelines

Tuchel’s 100th game in charge of Chelsea turned out to be an occasion to forget and he added: ‘I’m a part of it. We’re clearly not there where we need to be and where we can be, so it’s on me it’s on us. At the moment everything is missing.

‘This is a huge underperformance from all of us. It’s not precise enough, not clinical enough, not aggressive enough… Obviously they are underperforming individually and I don’t really know where this performance comes from.

‘A lack of determination, a lack of hunger and a lack of intensity to do the things we need at the highest level. We are clearly not where we want to be.’ 

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