Usa news

Shay Given rates Chelsea’s Champions League chances after Qarabag draw

Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo)
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw away to Qarabag (AP)

Shay Given believes Chelsea do not have a chance of winning the Champions League this season after their 2-2 draw with Qarabag on Wednesday night.

Chelsea took the lead in the first half in Baku through Estevao but found themselves 2-1 down by half time.

Enzo Maresca made three changes at the break with Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap and Enzo Fernandez brought on, and it was Garnacho who levelled the score with an excellent low finish in the 53rd minute.

However, Chelsea looked vulnerable on the counter attack and the draw against Qarabag leaves them on seven points from four Champions League games so far.

‘I just felt Chelsea played within themselves, played with an arrogance, or they turned up tonight and [thought] it would be an easy win for them,’ Given told TNT Sports after Chelsea’s draw.

Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day

Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.

Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.

‘They had to make big substitutions at half time, bring the big guns on, obviously Garnacho made the difference second half with his goal and maybe could have even nicked it at the end.

Estevao was crowned UEFA’s Player of the Match for his latest Chelsea performance (UEFA via Getty)

‘But at the same time, the defending… Qarabag could have grabbed a late winner as well, by the way. It will be a worry from a Chelsea point of view how open they were and how easy they were to cut through at times.

‘Other teams will be looking at Chelsea – have they got a chance of winning this competition? I would say on tonight’s performance probably not.

‘Obviously off the back of the summer, they were brilliant at the Club World Cup, I feel like they’ve come off that a bit, they’ve dipped a bit.

‘It worries me at the back the defensive side of things. Caicedo came on earlier in the game, he [Maresca] probably wanted to rest him because he’s covered so much ground this season. Lavia again has his injury problems, he’s had to put Caicedo back in the team and make three big subs at half time to make a difference.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Exit mobile version