Midfielder Jorginho scored from the spot as Chelsea finished their successful Champions League Group E campaign with a point against Krasnodar.
Frank Lampard made 10 changes to the side that defeated Leeds at the weekend, giving a first senior start to Tino Anjorin, while fellow 19-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour made his first start since recovering from injury.
The ‘second string’ Blues dominated the early possession, but the Russian side looked dangerous on the break and took the lead in the 24th minute through Remy Cabella. The former Newcastle player started and finished the move with a low shot that sneaked in past the reach of Kepa Arrizabalaga.
However, four minutes later the English side were level when Jorginho converted a penalty after Tammy Abraham had been fouled in the area by Brazilian midfielder Kaio.
England striker Abraham also went close with a low shot that was deflected wide by the boot of keeper Evgeni Gorodov.
The Blues finish Group E as winners with 14 points from their six games.
“There weren’t outstanding performances but I asked the lads to be professional and they were,” said Lampard.
“I don’t think we can over-analyse the group stage – we’ve won the group and it’s good progression.”
Chelsea teenagers given chance to shine
Lampard lauded the potential of Gilmour and Anjorin during the build-up, although will the pair, like many before them, struggle to break through at the club?
Anjorin, at the Blues since under-7 level, was making his first start and third senior appearance. Described as a box-to-box midfielder, the Dorset-born player stayed largely on the left of the pitch and produced a couple of loose balls early on before settling.
He came close to an assist when his peach of a pass into the area for Kai Havertz was not given a suitable finish by the German midfielder.
Gilmour made a big impression last season before he suffered a knee injury in July that kept him out of action until last week when he came on in the final minutes of the 4-0 thumping of Sevilla.
The Scot, who moved from Rangers to Chelsea at 16, was excellent in linking the play between the midfield and the likes of Abraham and Havertz further forward. One early strike on goal would have tested Gorodov had it not come off Abraham’s shoulder, while a half-volley was easily saved by the Russian keeper.
As for Kepa, he was making his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt since October. Aside from picking the ball out of the net, the only other time the Spaniard got his jersey dirty was in diving to push away Wanderson’s angled strike.
With speculation over moves for both Kepa and Gilmour in January, it will be interesting to see how many more appearances the pair will make for the high-flying Blues this season.
Lampard suggested that Gilmour, who is hoping to make Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad, might not leave on loan in the next window.
“The way he played today and how he trains, I see him growing with us,” said the Blues manager, who also praised Anjorin. “He’s going to be a Chelsea player so it’s just about making sure the pathway is right for him.
“He made that pathway right last season and then got injured at the wrong time but playing like he did today, he’s got a lot to offer us.”
Lampard also stated that wingers Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi have hamstring injuries and are likely to be sidelined for two weeks.
Blues on the spot – stats
Chelsea are unbeaten in six Champions League games (W4 D2), their longest run without defeat in the competition since September 2015 (W5 D4).
Krasnodar have suffered just one defeat in their last four European games on the road (W1 D2), after losing three of the four before that (W1).
Chelsea finished the group stage with a haul of 14 points, their highest tally at this stage of the competition since 2014-15 (14).
Chelsea have won 10 penalties in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League side, scoring eight of them (level with Leicester and Manchester United).
Anjorin is the ninth youngest player to debut for Chelsea in the Champions League (19y 15d) and the youngest since Callum Hudson-Odoi in October 2019 (18y 329d).
Cabella netted his first goal in the Champions League in his ninth appearance in the competition.
Kepa has conceded seven goals in his four appearances for Chelsea this season in all competitions, as many as fellow Blues keepers Edouard Mendy and Willy Caballero have shipped in their 15 games combined in 2020-21 (seven).
What’s next?
Chelsea are at Everton in the Premier League on Saturday (20:00 GMT).
