Matt Miazga made his Chelsea debut this past weekend, and the performance he put forth left his manager impressed with his first foray into English Premier League soccer.
The U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team defender started and played all 90 minutes in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa. Playing alongside veteran Branislav Ivanovic, Miazga proved capable throughout the contest as the relegation-destined Aston Villa provided little threat.
With his efforts, Miazga earned the praise of Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, who liked what he saw from the 20-year-old’s first start.
“He had a rather comfortable game, although it’s not easy to play (Rudy) Gestede, but I think he showed he does have the potential,” said Hiddink. “To be honest, this was not the toughest game; when the really good war is going you have to consider how you cope with that, but it’s a good first step for him. He’s coming from a league where it’s a bit naïve and he has to get used to referees in this country giving a little bit more freedom to the attackers, which I like.
“He has to get used to a little bit of a shuffle, a little bit of a push, where in other leagues the referee might be giving free-kicks. I accept that and like it very much but that’s a bit of naivety he has to leave as soon as possible. But I didn’t see much of that. Miazga’s young, although he looks a little bit older, and the club has to decide what to do for next year, but I don’t mind bringing in youngsters.”
Hiddink went on to praise the efforts of fellow youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who netted a goal in the victory.
With just seven games left in the Premier League season, Chelsea looks unlikely to push for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Hiddink is somewhat accepting of the fact, and is hoping to give youngsters like Miazga a chance in the absence of centerbacks John Terry and Gary Cahill.
“It’s good for English football having these guys,” Hiddink said. “Other clubs have them too, it’s good to see.
“When you have an Academy like Chelsea has for a long time, it’s not easy, but you must give the players the chance to step up. That’s what we are doing in the second part of the season.”
What do you think of Hiddink’s comments? What do you expect from Miazga in the next several games?
Share your thoughts below.
“comes from a a naive league ”
Diplomatic translator:
MLS sucks
I never said “impressed”
I agree. I didn’t see much said that was a compliment. More along the lines of, “He still has a lot of work to do.”
“He had a rather comfortable game, although it’s not easy to play (Rudy) Gestede, but I think he showed he does have the potential,
Hiddink seems to be saying that English refs let players be more physical than American refs, but I’m not so sure that’s true. I think MLS is about as physical as the EPL while a league like La Liga in Spain is much more technical and less physical. Hey, MLS now has Nigel de Jong, you can’t get more physical than that.
Yeah the Dynamo have tried a few Spanish players and they have generally flopped, technical, used to slower, more chesslike play, not ready for speed of play or physicality. Rodriquez the back is the only one close to sticking and I think even he is a little soft.
Where I would really think Americans might struggle in England are speed of play and touch. I think MLS is more spaced out and physical and forwards in particular here can get away with poor feet, Jozy, EJ. You go over to England and can’t trap a pass consistently — even with someone draped on you — and they’ll write you off as a donkey. I also think English teams get forward faster and have more of a sense of where to get the ball…..I’ll be yelling at the TV or from the stands for tempo and to get the ball to x and MLS people often take a few beats longer to work the ball around to where it needs to go. EPL is also more technical. So you need to be ready for faster speed of play.
This is not news compared to the Panama Papers that were leaked that implicate Messi and Platini in separate cases where they both used offshore accounts and/or shadow companies to avoid taxes by hiding them from their respective governments.
From what I’ve read it’s a who’s who from around the world that are directly involved. Trouble is, it goes so high up that individuals tasked with doling out punishment are likely involved themselves…which means nothing will be done.
I complete would agree with you if this was a normal situation, but you know you never get in between the governments and their taxes. They love their billions. Heads will roll. For sure.
Conte’s teams at Juventus were pretty strong defensively, even though they played a lot of 3-5-2 which sometimes was more a 5-3-2. Not sure how those formations would effect Matt going to a 4 man back line for the US.
that would be really interesting to watch this transformation. You don’t see it much in England (or the US) but I have always enjoyed watching the Juventus and Italy teams that employ the 3-4-3 or variations of them. Gladbach is doing this now and its really entertaining style that really suits Fabian Johnson. I always thought that it would suit a lot of our other players too but one we learned from that experiment in January 2015 is it won’t work on the national team until our players are living in that system at the club level. Hopefully Miagza is part of the Conti years and not farmed out..
You know I’ve always thought a 3 man backline would be perfect for the US. Yedlin and Johnson are perfect fits wingback, possibly even Chandler and Shea too.
Italians are usually pretty good at teaching/coaching defense, and the formation will be designed around playing that well.
What does Hiddink mean by Miazga’s (or MLS’s) “naivete”? It sounds like he meant that EPL referees give attacking players a lot more leeway to shove and push a defender to gain an advantage.
In context, He’s coming from a league where it’s a bit naïve sounds like Hiddink is stating MLS is a young/lower-tier league.
Yup, that’s how I read it too. Which is a fair assessment. I love MLS, partially because it is a young league still figuring out it’s identity. And sure, every league has different priorities and values when it comes to refereeing – so the EPL allows a little more physicality from attackers. I don’t watch a lot of EPL but that seems to ring true to me.
There is always a learning curve in any league. Many great players coming into MLS take half a season to adjust. It will take Matt the same, he just needs games.
I respect Hiddink’s CV but I don’t think he knows MLS. MLS is plenty physical.
But as someone above suggested, whether Hiddink is impressed may not matter much with Conte coming in. Getting on tape does matter but AV stinks and Hiddink pretty much acknowledges that his bigger tests will come elsewhere.
That being said, compared to say EJ, he did not trip and land on his face out of the gate.
agreed. hiddink knows more about soccer than i could learn in a few lifetimes, but it doesn’t sound like he watches much mls. 🙂
“naivete’ means stupid in Dutch.
I think that comment specifically refered to Referring. Defenders get away with a lot of fouls and aren’t given yellow cards that would a) be fouls in the BPL and b) likely be yellow cards to boot.
One of the biggest issues in MLS is the refereeing. It’s terrible. I think there was a directive from early in the league that the league didn’t want a lot of fouls and wanted physical play.
Wonder how Conte’s hiring will affect Matt.
That’s my biggest question, too.
All the more reason why Miazga has to continue making the most of his opportunities, should he be given them, to build a video resume for the incoming manager.
can’t imagine conte’s hiring will have much effect–if any–on miazga at all. he’s clearly the 5th cb on the roster right now, and if chelsea do let terry go, it’s a given that they’ll buy a high-priced replacement. they’re also looking into bringing christensen back early from his 2-year loan at bmg.
bottom line: miazga will be hoping for a loan to a club where he can get substantial minutes.