Michy Batshuayi, Chelsea’s last gasp game winner and Mr. Leave it late
He may not be the ideal forward in terms of flamboyance and skillset that fits the criteria of the fans at Stamford Bridge, but Michy Batshuayi has been winning the hearts of Chelsea fans around the world with very significant key moments. And like it or not, Batshuayi is Chelsea’s highest goal scorer in the UCL for Chelsea with two goals to his name.
He may have been heavily criticized for finding the back of the net just once against a lowly Qarabag on the opening night of the 2017/18 UCL, but how about a winning goal as Chelsea came from behind in the dying minutes of the game to beat Atletico Madrid by 2 goals to 1 at the Wanda Metropolitano after going a goal behind in the first half through a Griezmann penalty?
Who can say they had fathomed that Batshuayi would win the game for Chelsea even at 88 minutes? The Belgian international may not have hit the ground running at the Bridge but will be very much remembered for having produced those ‘leave it late’ or ‘last gasp’ moments. He popped up to do the same against West Brom at the Hawthorns last season to win Chelsea the title in the closing stages of the game.
The winner against Atletico which was scored by Batshuayi will prove to be significant as Chelsea go on to face Roma over two legs consecutively. Chelsea face Manchester City this weekend at Stamford Bridge and if there was ever a morale-boosting performance to prepare the Blues for the tough opposition in City, then this is it, and guess who provided the inspiration? Michy Batshuayi!
Batshuayi is proving to be the last gasp winner provider for Chelsea in very important encounters, and if he was rarely considered as a threat in games by opposition defenders, they’ll surely sit up and accord him the ‘on the pitch’ respect by marking him to shreds (if such an analogy exists) when he arrives in a game due to his ability to come up with something when all hope is given up.
