Callum
Hudson-Odoi did not touch the ball in the build-up to Chelsea's third goal
against Southampton. The statistics will show no involvement of any kind on
his part. But the chance, converted by N'Golo Kante with the help of a
deflection, would not have arisen without him.
First, there was the decoy run to drag Southampton right-back Jan Valery out
of position and leave the overlapping Marcos Alonso in space to pick up
Jorginho's pass. Then, having accelerated forward to rejoin the attack,
there was the dummy which allowed the Spaniard's cut-back to roll through
his legs to Kante, who was better positioned to take advantage.
That passage of play, which came just as Southampton were threatening an
equaliser, showed selflessness and intelligence to match the explosive pace
and dribbling ability that have marked him out as such a special talent.
Hudson-Odoi is still only 18. This was his first Premier League start of the
season. But he keeps finding new ways to impress.
Chelsea's opening goal, for which he did register an assist, was another
example. There seemed to be little on when he collected the ball inside his
own half following a Southampton attack, but some 40 yards further forward,
he spotted Tammy Abraham running beyond his man and picked him out with a
raking pass which landed directly at his feet.
It was the kind of pass Cesc Fabregas was producing in this Chelsea midfield
not so long ago and it took Hudson-Odoi to three assists and one goal in
just 220 minutes on the pitch this season.
The numbers become even more impressive when you consider he only recently
returned from a serious injury. They might be higher, too, had he not
spurned a one-on-one opportunity of his own in the second half.
Hudson-Odoi's performances have vindicated Frank Lampard for throwing him
straight back into the Chelsea team. They also show why he is now considered
to be such an important part of the club's future.
It is less than a year ago that, frustrated by a lack of opportunity under
Maurizio Sarri and amid interest from Bayern Munich, Hudson-Odoi handed in a
transfer request. Now, he is tied to a new long-term contract and keeping
the £58m Christian Pulisic out of the team.
Hudson-Odoi's repertoire is widening by the week and there were plenty of
examples of the things he does best against Southampton too.
Lampard was critical of his reluctance to run in behind during Chelsea's
demolition of Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup last month, but it was clear
that he has heeded those comments from as early as the 11th minute at St
Mary's, when he latched onto a Cesar Azpilicueta through-ball and teed up
Abraham for Chelsea's first chance of the afternoon.
"That's where I want him," said Lampard in his press conference afterwards.
The Chelsea manager praised his work-rate out of possession, adding:
"Staying tight to the midfield and then releasing themselves against the
full-backs, it's all the things I want from the wingers."
Lampard has said he does not consider age when he picks his teams, but it
certainly helps that his young players possess maturity beyond their years.
Hudson-Odoi is a maverick talent capable of game-changing moments of
brilliance, but he also makes the right decisions. He knows he can beat his
man, but his risks are calculated and he rarely over-plays.
In fact, on Sunday, he usually opted to keep things simple in possession,
checking back and laying the ball off to a team-mate to help Chelsea retain
possession during awkward periods of the game. Indeed, despite operating
primarily in the final third, it was notable that Hudson-Odoi registered the
second-highest pass success rate of Chelsea's starters.
It's little wonder Lampard is so pleased by his impact this season - or that
the travelling Chelsea fans at St Mary's were so vocal in sounding their
appreciation. When he was substituted in the closing stages, the reception
that followed him off the pitch was perhaps the loudest of the afternoon.
Where does his form leave Pulisic?
For Pulisic, the man who replaced him, this was a first Premier League
appearance of any kind since the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United at the end
of August.
The American arrived at Stamford Bridge to much anticipation during the
summer, the £58m price-tag suggesting he would be the man to step into Eden
Hazard's shoes, but until Sunday he had not made it off the bench in four
consecutive Premier League games. He was not even named in the squad for
Wednesday's Champions League meeting with Lille.
Pulisic aired his frustrations in an interview last week, while Lampard, for
his part, has implied that the 21-year-old is not working hard enough in
training to merit selection. But a player who trudged down the tunnel
without smiling after last weekend's 2-0 win over Brighton at Stamford
Bridge cut a far happier figure after the final whistle at St Mary's.
This time, he walked off arm-in-arm with team-mate Jorginho having made a
notable contribution, his superb assist for Michy Batshuayi in the final few
minutes of the game serving as a reminder of the ability that convinced
Chelsea to part with £58m for his signature in the first place.
Pulisic will hope it is the first step towards winning Lampard over. He will
hope it earns him increased opportunities in the months ahead. But the
Hudson-Odoi performance that preceded his introduction suggests Lampard's
pecking order is unlikely to change any time soon. It's the academy
graduate's place to lose now.
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