Chelsea tackle Al-Hilal on Wednesday within the Membership World Cup, however they did not want such an intense exercise having to beat Plymouth in extra-time to progress to the FA Cup fifth spherical
- Chelsea face Al-Hilal in Abu Dhabi within the Membership World Cup on Wednesday evening
- The Blues beat Plymouth in extra-time to progress to the FA Cup fifth spherical
- Mason Mount hobbled of injured, as Kepa Arrizabalaga saved a penalty kick
- Thomas Tuchel's males will face Luton City within the FA Cup fifth spherical
Nicely, this wasn't within the script. With Chelsea 's Membership World Cup marketing campaign beginning on Wednesday, they did not want a 120-minute intense exercise.
They did not have to fly out to Abu Dhabi with out boss Thomas Tuchel, after he examined optimistic for Covid and entered isolation.
They did not want key man Mason Mount to limp off with a muscle harm forward of such a vital interval. And the very last thing they wanted was an FA Cup exit to go along with their nearly-deceased Premier League title bid.
Fortunately for them they prevented that. However solely by the pores and skin of their tooth.
League One Plymouth went into an early lead on the house of the European champions, took them to additional time after which practically penalties. It took 106 minutes for Chelsea to go forward and even then wanted Kepa Arrizabalaga to save lots of a A hundred and fifteenth-minute Plymouth penalty.
So it will be improper to say this was a disastrous day. Chelsea, finalists final 12 months, are by means of and proceed a lovely cup-football run underneath Tuchel.
He was tuned in from house, fortunately with no extreme signs, however he could have been given a sore head watching his aspect's efficiency right here.
This was a powerful Chelsea XI and their star man was Kepa, who stopped a spot-kick from Ryan Hardie, who had earlier pressured the Spaniard right into a string of saves.
The £72million man was ridiculed for his begin to life in England however, with Edouard Mendy on the Africa Cup of Nations, he hasn't put a foot improper.
Sufficient about Chelsea, although. This was simply one other day for the maybe soon-to-be world champions. For Plymouth, it was a once-in-a-career second.
'My gamers can look again on the finish of their profession and say, 'That day we took the European champions proper to the wire',' stated Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher. 'They need to be so proud.'
Spot on. In simply his tenth match as a supervisor, his aspect rocked up at Stamford Bridge not simply to benefit from the time out however to provide Chelsea an almighty scare. 'Schuey's on the wheel,' sang 6,000 away followers of their boss. However Schumacher wasn't steering a parked bus, extra a racecar daring to counter-attack and trigger points.
They so practically made it rely however Hardie's penalty was weak.
Argyle followers can say they got here inside 12 yards of stopping Chelsea on a day the place Tuchel's aspect have been dealt a number of blows.
For Chelsea, who play Al-Hilal on Wednesday, the glitz and glamour of Abu Dhabi awaits. For Plymouth, a Tuesday evening journey to Crewe.