Chelsea looked poor across the board in a loss to Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, and their start to the Champions League offered few positives.
[Marc Cucurella](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/259910/Marc-Cucurella), N/R -- Replaced Chilwell in the 71st minute and was unable to make many notable attacking moves, while he was beaten to the ball a few times while trying to defend. [Jorginho](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/165778/jorginho), 5 -- Replaced Kovacic in the 59th minute and tried to move the ball and make things happen, but couldn't manage to find a way through the Dinamo defence. [Christian Pulisic](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/225607/christian-pulisic), N/R -- Replaced Sterling in the 75th minute and tried to get into dangerous areas but couldn't quite make them count. Almost found [Armando Broja](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/291535/Armando-Broja) at the back post after doing well to reach [Jorginho](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/233721/Jorginho)'s pass. [Armando Broja](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/291535/armando-broja), 5 -- Replaced Aubameyang in the 59th minute and flashed a ball towards the front post moments after coming on as he tried to inject some extra energy into their play. [Kai Havertz](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231182/Kai-Havertz), 5 -- Had encouraging flashes with some good runs and crosses that came close to finding Aubameyang, although a poor touch let him down when there was a chance to break through later in the half. [Ben Chilwell](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/225426/ben-chilwell), 5 -- Headed away Orsic's shot well. [Reece James](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/189007/Reece-James), 5 -- Got into good positions but his passing was poor at times, as was his crossing in the first half with too many of his attempts tamely hitting [Robert Ljubicic](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/273480/Robert-Ljubicic). Got forward a lot of the time but found himself being well-marshalled by [Sadegh Moharrami](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/194870/Sadegh-Moharrami) and Stefan Ristovski. [Hakim Ziyech](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/176733/Hakim-Ziyech), 3 -- Replaced Azpilicueta at halftime and showed early intent with a shot from range, even if it didn't trouble Livakovic. His late chest to [Christian Pulisic](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/225607/Christian-Pulisic) could have ended up being an assist. Completely wasted the opportunity to counter by making a poor pass following a Dinamo mistake and didn't do much in the second period.
A raucous atmosphere greeted the players, as expected, and the home fans didn't stop chanting for a single second from then on.
- Ziyech on for Azpi at half-time, at wing-back. Fofana in the middle of the back three. - Six changes from the weekend, including a debut for Aubameyang.
Mateo Kovacic (front L) of Chelsea is tackled during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC in Zagreb, Croatia, ...
(Slavko Midzor/PIXSELL via Xinhua) Bruno Petkovic (C) of Dinamo Zagreb and Wesley Fofana (R) of Chelsea vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sept. Mateo Kovacic (L) of Chelsea and Arijan Ademi of Dinamo Zagreb vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and Chelsea FC in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sept.
Chelsea spent about £272 million in the summer transfer market, including a reported fee of £75 million for centre-back Wesley Fofana.
Part of that is down to the players, of course, who weren't sharp or decisive enough. Returning to a five-at-the-back system, Chelsea looked frail defensively and clueless in the attack against a Dinamo team they should have steamrolled. That, most likely, is a result of playing alongside a new team-mate, with the two certainly needing time to adjust to each other's tendencies.
ZAGREB (Reuters) -Dinamo Zagreb claimed a shock victory over Chelsea in their Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday as they beat the 2021 European ...
"At the moment, everything is missing. Chelsea did not threaten in the box until Tuchel made all five substitutions but Zagreb held firm. "There's too much to analyse, I am part of this.
Chelsea's patchy start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb ...
SUB: Hakim Ziyech (46' for Azpilicueta) - 3/10 - Saw a lot of possession but did very little with it. SUB: Christian Pulisic (75' for Sterling) - 5/10 SUB: Armando Broja (58' for Aubameyang) - 5/10 SUB: Marc Cucurella (71' for Chilwell) - 4/10 SUB: Jorginho (59' for Kovacic) - 5/10 Has now grabbed goals against three London sides after scoring against West Ham and Tottenham in the last two seasons. Bruno Petkovic's neat layoff sent Mislav Orsic racing away, and he managed to outpace Wesley Fofana and lift a shot over Kepa Arrizabalaga. SUB: Dario Spikic (76' for Orsic) - 6/10 SUB: Josip Drmic (90' for Petkovic) - N/A SUB: Rasmus Lauritsen (76' for Moharrami) - 6/10 SUB: Martin Baturina (89' for Ademi) - N/A CM: Josip Misic - 6/10 - A tidy game in the heart of midfield.