Watch Chelsea flop Higuain get nutmegged by Christensen in training, causing team-mates to laugh in his face
IT’S tempting to say it’s the hapless moment that summed up Gonzalo Higuain’s season.
Chelsea team-mates laughed in the on-loan but out-of-luck striker’s face after defender Andreas Christensen nutmegged him during a fast-paced training routine.
Higuain, 31, is hoping to start Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg away to fourth-placed Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
And the former Argentina star must hope his fortunes improve after just four goals so far since Chelsea borrowed him from Juventus in January.
Higuain left Blues players whooping with delight after the ball was flicked between his legs – but also seems certain to leave Stamford Bridge with a whimper in the summer after failing to impress in his first stab at the Premier League.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was the latest critic to rip into the ex-Real Madrid and Napoli ace following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Higuain played the whole game yet ended up having just three shots, including only one on target, while also creating only one chance.
And perhaps most damning of all, he managed a meagre total of four touches inside the United box.
NUTMEG SUMS UP HIS SEASON
Scholes responded by telling TSN: “Higuain was poor.. they almost played with ten men today.”
So Higuain is one of the Blues with most to prove as Maurizio Sarri’s men attempt to rescue their season with a European trophy.
After slipping to fifth in the Prem, Chelsea’s tie with Frankfurt seems bigger than ever.
And Higuain will be aiming to nip under the radar as the Germans focus on stopping the Blues’ main man Eden Hazard and Europa League specialist Olivier Giroud.
Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter said of Real Madrid target Hazard: “You have to double him and you have to try to take him out of the game and his qualities make him one of the top three in the world.
“You have to double him and you have to try to take him out of the game and his qualities make him one of the top three in the world.
“Chelsea are a Champions League team like Luiz, Higuain, Azpilicueta.
most read in football
“In the Premier League Higuain usually plays, but Giroud is a world champion. I don’t know why he feels better in the Europa League.
“He has played a great season and that’s why we have to pay special attention to him.”
So if Chelsea’s loan flop does get his chance on Thursday he must hope his training-ground faux-pas was just a minor Hig-up.