Chelsea ensured a significant upturn of form with an emphatic response to their recent woes which could offer the turning point in their season. It was a performance which cleared the cobwebs of the last couple of months, when an underwhelming return infront of goal threatened to undermine Maurizio Sarri’s attacking philosophy.
A clean sheet was imperative for the blues after wednesday’s 4-0 drubbing at Bournemouth. Goals difference had seen them drop below Arsenal to fifth on the table in what was their heaviest defeat since 1996. Sarri’s latest criticism of his players’ mentality and commitment to the system resulted in their biggest win of the season.
The 5-0 result was recorded against Huddersfield who are on their way to relegation but it provided the perfect outcome for the team. Sarri returned to his most trusted starting 11 – save for Rudiger who was carrying a knock- and the leaders in the team stood up to be counted.
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| Gonzalo Higuain. Photo:John Sibley/Action images via reuters |
Gonzalo Higuain showed his overall quality with a brace on his home league debut; his first was a lethal finish after a brilliant dart in the box to meet Kante’s pass and the second was a deflected shot outside the box. Two very different goals that show exactly what el Pipita would offer Chelsea in and outside the opposition’s area. If he can keep his form and fitness up for the rest of the season then Chelsea have a reliable goalscoring outlet.
Chelsea kept having a go at Huddersfield and were hungry for more goals after going 2-nil up. An element which has been lacking in their game this season that makes one wonder why a team who posses so much of the ball in games lack the actual hunger to keep going. However, and it’s a nice trait to keep. I recently wrote in an article for feelchelsea how Chelsea’s season could be about to see a turnaround and today’s game looked the first step in that direction.
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| Eden Hazard scores his second goal. Photo: David Klein/Reuters |
Eden Hazard certainly had much to prove today and he played a blinder, running and dribbling at Huddersfield’s defence time and time again, his brace would settle nerves and outlines his importance to the team. Great players always find a way to play well together and the Belgian looked to link-up with Higuain every time either were on the ball, their partnership shows early promise and Chelsea fans would hope for more of the same.
N’golo Kanté showed more of his attacking prowess with two delightful assists for Higuain’s goals, on paper it’s his partnership with the striker which has borne fruit so far. His change of position has divided opinion due to Chelsea being defensively fragile at times, critics have a fair point that one of the best defensive midfielders in the game is being played out of position when his team has lacked balance. On the flip side, Kanté is being deployed higher up the pitch to win possession in the opposition’s territory and ensure it remains in dangerous areas. His role has produced attacking rewards, his best ever goals+assists output in his time in England and he seems to relish his responsibilities with typical humility and execution. The team would get used to defending the manager’s way and Kanté would no longer be required to snuff out danger in the defensive third, this is all part of the process in that transition into an effective high-pressing side.
Chelsea have set their season back on track and in a vital month that sees them fight on all four fronts, consistency – in performances and mentality – needs to be sustained.
