Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pointed to decisive half-time changes as the reason for the Blues’ hard-fought 1-0 victory over Copenhagen, securing our place in the final eight of the Conference League 3-1 on aggregate.
The Blues booked their place in the Conference League quarter-finals thanks to a decisive moment of quality from Dewsbury-Hall after a frustrating opening half that saw Copenhagen prove difficult to break down.
The midfielder admitted that he knew we would face a resolute and determined Copenhagen after we endured a similar period in the Danish capital last week. However, the 26-year-old acknowledged the importance of the Blues’ patience and revealed that changes at the break were the catalyst for an improved performance and, eventually, his goal.
‘Copenhagen were tough to break down,’ he began. ‘They were in a good solid shape – 5-4-1 – and it’s hard to break that down.
'It was a bit frustrating in the first half, but we made a few adjustments in the second half, in terms of the positions of players, and I feel like you could see that with more chances and getting in better positions and spaces, and thankfully, we managed to get the win.’
It was Dewsbury-Hall himself who provided the all-important breakthrough, showcasing his tenacity and quality to convert the chance that fell his way.
‘I got it into a bit of space, tried to manipulate the ball, and, with a bit of endeavour, managed to get the ball to ricochet into my path,’ he recalled. ‘I practice that finish after training pretty much every day, so it’s nice that it managed to come off in a game for me!’
His decisive strike ensured Chelsea’s journey in Europe continues, with the midfielder relishing the opportunity to play on the continental stage. Kiernan believes that, although the journey ahead will be far from straightforward, the squad has the ability to go the distance.
Kiernan added: ‘Any player will say that to play in Europe, no matter what competition it is, is the best feeling in the world. I’m always grateful when I get to come out to play, especially at Stamford Bridge. I’m scoring a few goals here, which is nice, and hopefully, it will continue.
‘We respect every team, but we know what quality and mentality we have in the squad. I feel like Copenhagen will be one of the toughest tests we have, and they gave us a tough game.
‘We have three stages to go to lift the silverware, and now we’re just focused on the quarter-finals and taking it game by game, and then I’m confident we can go all the way.’