How Right is Shaun Wright-Phillips?
Chelsea came into its Quarterfinal replay against Tottenham with a slight reshuffle to its traditional power lineup on Monday.
Jose Mourinho tinkered with his squad tactic at an unpredictable moment and reaped the dividends by orchestrating probably what has been Chelsea’s best team performance this season.
With the two teams nil at halftime, Chelsea exploded in the 2nd half with two superb, breathtaking goals that all but gutted the Tottenham spirit that in truth had pressed and asked questions of Chelsea before the thunderbolts fell from the sky.
What turned out to be the true stroke of genius was giving Wright-Phillips the license and belief that he could pull the strings from a central midfield position. With the ex-Man. City winger operating away from his accepted role, Jose just might have unveiled England’s best central midfielder.
At least today, his quickness and mobility was enough to silence White Hart Lane. His first contribution was laying off and setting up for a wonder strike by Shevchenko in the 55th min. Even “The Drogba” stood mesmerized in disbelief as Sheva finally showed his master-class by hitting a left-footed bullet that curled into the back post upper 90.
Shaun Wright-Phillips finished what he started in the 61st min. by hitting an excellent volley again past Paul Robinson to the back post—“The Drogba” assisting with a set-up chester in the penalty area.
Spurs striker Robbie Keane pulled one goal back in the 79th min. from the penalty spot, but only to stop the bleeding as the damaged had already been done.
Next up is the Semifinal match against Blackburn on Saturday, April 14th. Hopefully, the resolute and stingy defense of Mark Hughes’ men won’t entice Mourinho to settle back into the Chelsea power surge.
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