There are moments when this simple game – two goals, a pair of teams, one ball – defies all logic. If last night’s drama taught us anything it was that no matter how many games you have watched, football can still conjure up new ways to leave us all dumbfounded.
Even now, given time to process what really happened at Stamford Bridge, it is hard to get your head around it. As Frank Lampard said: “I can’t give you a dissection of today because firstly I need to watch it back with a calm head. When you are on the sidelines it is hard to grasp straight away."
What anyone could have grasped straight away was that at 4-1 down Chelsea appeared dead and buried, seemingly destined for a second home defeat in Group H and the realisation that if they are to reach the knockout stages a result away to Valencia at the end of the month would be a necessity.
Lampard’s team were being outclassed by an Ajax side that appeared in full control. Hakim Ziyech’s magical left foot, Donny van de Beek’s relentless drive, Quincy Promes’s cleverness and directness were causing undeniable havoc and, for the first time since the opening weekend of the Premier League, the young (and indeed older) Blues looked like startled rabbits in the headlights.
Or so we thought.
Then, from nowhere, one of the great comebacks. The beauty of being a young player is that they will have tasted fewer disappointments and are less exposed to the deflation that comes with it. As a result they are more likely to continue fighting with reckless abandon, resisting the urge to metaphorically curl up into a foetal position and wish the minutes away until the misery ends.
Even at 4-1 you could see the belief in Tammy Abraham’s work, the efforts of Mason Mount before he came off injured, Christian Pulisic’s nifty play out wide before moving in centrally, Reece James’s excellent second half and Callum Hudson-Odoi’s lively cameo.
“The spirit and character was something that I loved and the fans loved,” Lampard added. “We need to tighten up for sure, but with that spirit we can go places.”
It said plenty for how baffling this game was that despite where Chelsea came from, factoring in the reality that they had been outplayed and out-thought for the best part of an hour, they ended it disappointed not to win.
Not just because Cesar Azpilicueta had that second goal ruled out by VAR at 4-4 but also because they had 20 minutes with two extra men, momentum and a rapturous home crowd behind them. In the end the hosts recorded 22 attempts on goal.
Instead, remarkably, it was the 150 or so Ajax guests allowed into a corporate section celebrating more vigorously at the conclusion.
How must Erik ten Hag and his players reflect on the result after a night’s sleep? Judged alone, to hang on for a point with nine men that ensures three sides are tied on seven with two rounds of games to play was a fine achievement, but it is equally hard to overlook that they let a three-goal advantage slip.
While there can be no complaints over Daley Blind’s dismissal, Joel Veltmann has grounds to feel hard done by for seeing a second yellow as well as conceding a penalty five seconds later with advantage being played. Has a team ever caused so much self-inflicted damage in such a short space of time?
“At 4-1 we had everything under control,” surmised Tadic. “Until one man stole everything from us.” Blaming the referee Gianluca Rocchi for their collapse was a tad unfair, irrespective of your feelings towards the Veltmann dismissal and VAR, especially seeing as it was 4-2 then and Chelsea's tails were up.
As both sets of players collapsed to the turf exhausted at full time, mutual appreciation was plentiful. Both knew they had been in a battle, even though the war is not yet won.
Lampard’s team have a big job on their hands to make it into the last-16 but whatever happens between now and the final in Istanbul on May 30, for those who witnessed Chelsea 4-4 Ajax in the flesh it will live in the memory for years to come.
Was it the most remarkable of all the nights Lampard has seen here? “I don’t know, it is hard to put it in perspective,” he said. “I have to watch it back. I had some mad nights over the years, some great nights. But it is certainly right up there.”
