Maurizio Sarri’s first Premier League match as Chelsea manager showed enough to raise optimism after a summer of stalling and unrest.
Sarri’s methods will take time to become ingrained in his new charges; so it is important that Chelsea keep on winning while the players learn.
With that in mind, early conclusions are tough to draw. However, one stood out as soon as Jorginho’s penalty beat Ben Hamer at Huddersfield on Saturday.
Do Chelsea have the calmest penalty takers in the Premier League? Jorginho’s stuttering technique can be matched by Eden Hazard’s method; waiting for the goalkeeper to dive before slotting it the other side.
He did it to the best goalkeeper in world football, David de Gea, in the FA Cup final last season. Jorginho’s early season effort shows he can be the perfect alternative if the Belgian is not on the pitch.
Victor Moses’ calm World Cup penalty against Argentina suggests that maybe something is in the water in west London to provide these calm takers!
The rest of the league
Paul Pogba slotted home for Manchester United on Friday; but their first-choice kicker has frequently rotated as a result of misses.
James Milner takes them for Liverpool but Roberto Firmino missed against Sevilla last season. Harry Kane is now backed up by successful England kickers Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier at Tottenham; but it is tough to see that duo offering up a calmer effort than Jorginho or Hazard.
Sergio Aguero once missed two Manchester City penalties in the same game but Kevin de Bruyne is the only outstanding alternative.
Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will fancy them at Arsenal, but the latter missed one against City last season.
It remains to be seen whether Sarri can guide his new side above the rest of the top flight this season. But there is one area where they already look ahead; from the penalty spot.
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