There is a lot of skill, but the outcomes are lacking. Chelsea had heard this tale before.
Chelsea lost 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, despite spending record amounts on new hires, and will need to perform better in the return leg to advance to the Champions League round of 16.
Although Chelsea generated and wasted several of the better opportunities, Karim Adeyemi ran the whole length of the field to score the game's sole goal on a quick counterattack.
After the German side attempted a counterattack after Chelsea's Joo Félix missed a headed opportunity from a corner, Adeyemi raced down the field, outmuscling Enzo Fernández before round goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and scored into the empty net.
Adeyemi took the ball from a clearing at the outside of his own penalty area and required less than nine seconds to score at the opposite end. He performed a backflip in joy.
As the centre of Chelsea's defence, Kalidou Koulibaly almost brought his club a point at the opposite end. In the 78th minute, Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was unable to save Koulibaly's low drive, and the ball went over the goal line before being deflected by Emre Can, who kept Dortmund ahead.
Argentine World Cup champion Enzo Fernández, who cost Chelsea a lot of money last month, came close to tying the score in injury time, but Kobel stopped his curling attempt.
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic told DAZN, “There was a little bit of luck in there for us and a nice effort from our goalie.
In 2023, Chelsea has only achieved one victory out of nine games played, as manager Graham Potter works to integrate new players. Dortmund has won seven straight games.
“We put up a very good show, particularly in the second half. Potter told broadcaster BT Sport, “Overall, we created a lot of opportunities and had a lot of shots on goal.
“Of course, we're sad about the goal we let up, but I felt like we had the upper hand in the second half. Regrouping is necessary before attacking the match at Stamford Bridge.
Just three of Chelsea's nine January additions were permitted to be included in the team for the Champions League, although Félix, Fernández, and Mykhailo Mudryk were all starters and all presented a danger.
Félix had the two greatest opportunities in a first half in which neither side managed to produce a shot on goal as Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly watched from the bleachers. Early on, Thiago Silva scored for Chelsea, although he did it with his hand.
Félix attempted two shots, one of which went over the crossbar. From the second minute, when only a superbly timed challenge from Nico Schlotterbeck prevented Mudryk from racing through on goal, Chelsea's speed and threat on the break had been evident. Prior to Adeyemi's score on the break, Chelsea increased their pressure early in the second half.
Dortmund, led by 19-year-old Jude Bellingham, was active as well. Julian Brandt and Adeyemi both found themselves in advantageous shooting situations, but hesitated, enabling Chelsea defenders to stop their attempts.
After missing the whole first half of the season while receiving treatment for testicular cancer, Sébastien Haller, making his European debut for Dortmund, failed to make an impression against the Chelsea defence and misfired on his finest opportunity.
