Blues look inspired by the spirit of the Gael

LIFE IS anything but dull for Gael Kakuta; leaving one’s country of birth, learning a new language and trying to establish a fresh life and career at such a young age is difficult enough for any teen but to then hit the international headlines at the centre of potentially one of the biggest football contractual stories since Bosman is probably something he could have done without.

And how many 18-year-olds do you know who have been fined £750,000? Just in case this entire hullabaloo didn’t ensure that the spotlight was inexorably pointed towards the youngster, Ancelotti makes the statement that he is the best talent that he has seen at that age. No pressure then!

So when it was revealed Kakuta would be on the bench for our encounter with Wolves there was already a plethora of headlines waiting to be written. I bet many outside Stamford Bridge were hoping he’d be a failure.

But from his first feint and lightning quick shot, fans were smitten.

There have been a number of debuts over the last few years and invariably we are satisfied with the performances, but they haven’t exactly set us alight either, with the possible exception of Arjen Robben’s introduction after injury at Stamford Bridge.

Kakuta doesn’t need the added pressure of Chelsea fans singling him out as the new messiah. But I’ve a good feeling about this one.

Joe Cole seemed to go into flicks and tricks overdrive following Kakuta’s early display of dummies, shoulder drops and stepovers and as for Kalou – was it my imagination or did he seem reticent to pass to the 18-year-old once he had demonstrated that he was not going to stand on ceremony when it came to picking up that ball and going for glory?

Competition can only be a good thing, especially for someone like Kalou, whose mind needs to be more focused to accompany his athleticism.

Let’s hope that as far as Chelsea are concerned that Kakuta will soon be making headlines for the right reasons and that the ludicrous punishment visited on him by the Eurocrats is consigned to the bin.

Kakuta was just one of the highlights from Saturday’s game. Although the opposition were not “top drawer” our second string strolled to a win with ease which also allowed Ancelotti to give the giant Nemanja Matic a debut and Fabio Borini more playing time. Both acquitted themselves well. Along with Jeffrey Bruma, Kakuta and Co form a highly-promising quartet of players under 21. You know, the kind we’re not supposed to have.

I’m afraid that by hook or by crook, France were always going to go to South Africa and as it turned out, it was by crook – Thierry Henry.

Henry has been a slyboots throughout his career. He has previous in the World Cup and no Chelsea supporter will forget his unethical quick free kick, courtesy of Graham Poll, at Highbury a few years ago.

We could discuss until the cows come home what other players would have done in his place – I don’t doubt many would have the same.

But most would have been too embarrassed to celebrate like he scored a 30-yard-screamer or sit on the ground at the final whistle with his head in his hands feigning sympathy with distraught Irish players.

And the majority would not have deliver the codswallop it was “instinctive” and suggest the game should be replayed safe in the knowledge FIFA already ruled that out. Henry practised his dark arts at Arsenal and found another place they appreciated it at Barcelona.

We Chelsea fans know more than most what it feels like to be cheated. I can offer only sympathy.

But what was it that Roy Keane said? “What goes round comes round.” Let’s hope so.

* Trizia on [e-mail]