Crespo's cameo steals spotlight

14 April 2012

Chelsea 3 Msk Zilina 0
(Chelsea Win 5-0 On Aggregate)

Every match resembles an audition for Chelsea's extensive cast of A-list stars and bit-part actors, but the most significant feature of last night's entertainment came during the interval.

Hernan Crespo edged sheepishly onto the pitch, long hair blowing in the wind on a balmy evening at the Bridge, to be officially unveiled as a Chelsea player and even managed to half-heartedly punch the air in premature celebration. There should be many more-real moments of joy in the coming months.

Crespo is supposed to be the final piece in what must surely be one of the most expensive jigsaws ever assembled, but given the remarkable events of the last two months it would be unwise to count on it.

With the exception of Christian Vieri, who is already pining for his former Inter Milan team-mate, Chelsea have signed everyone they wanted and Claude Makelele could yet burst through the transfer window before Sunday's deadline.

If the previous signing Alex Smertin was a political attempt to appease some of Roman Abramovich's forgotten friends in Russia, then Crespo is very much Claudio Ranieri's man.

The 28-year-old has made a huge impression since moving to Italy seven years ago, battling injury to score nine goals in 12 Champions League games last season, and Ranieri hopes he will have a similar impact in the Premiership. Given the continued indifferent form of Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink he may have to.

Ranieri said: "You can play well but if you don't put the ball in the back of the net it's not good. Crespo is a very fast player, excellent in the air and scores a lot of goals. Last season he played very few games in Serie A but scored five goals in 12 games.

"Crespo's characteristics are good for English football. He's another lion and wants to fight in every match. I now have five strikers and can pick two every week. In September and October we will have games every three days so it's important to give the players a rest."

It is unclear where some of Chelsea's nine summer signings, such as Juan Veron and Joe Cole, fit into the manager's plans but Crespo arrives as the undisputed first-choice striker. Ranieri intends to build his team around the pace and guile of the Argentinian and hopes the presence of one of his international team-mates will help him to settle.

He said: "Veron and Crespo have known each other for a long time since they played for Argentina Under-21s. Veron has another friend at the club and they can provide a good link. Veron can help explain English football to him."

Crespo's unscheduled mid-match walkabout overshadowed a professional performance that secured Chelsea's first appearance in the Champions League for three years.

Ranieri made five changes to the team that beat Leicester on Saturday but few of the incoming players seized their opportunity with any real vigour. Cole again looked isolated on the left-hand side of midfield and Gudjohnsen, despite shedding several pounds, played as if he had a considerable weight on his mind.

It was left to the home side's young defenders to pose their biggest attacking threat, Glen Johnson and Robert Huth scoring headed goals in middle of each half, before Hasselbaink sealed victory with well-taken volley towards the end.

The immediate reward is a place in tomorrow afternoon's first-round draw in Monaco, though Ranieri chose to play down his team's chances.

He said: "The target is to arrive at the same level as Real Madrid and Manchester United but it might not be realistic.

"The big teams will not be thinking about Chelsea. They have had good squads for a long time and will not be worried about us."

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Crespo's cameo steals spotlight

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