Chelsea won 3-1 on Monday night against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge as they secured a much-needed comeback to the top four in the Premier League. Goals from defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Marc Cucurella and a crucial one from winger Noni Madueke powered the victors after a six-match winless run in the league.
1.This would be an especially important victory for Chelsea, as it follows an apparently downward trend after a tremendous start. Just a little less than a month before, Chelsea were in the second position after an incredible form surge; now they have just flown up to fourth. Manchester City and Newcastle United have become the next victims-because Chelsea left them behind, they now reside outside the border of top five. Meanwhile, Wolves barely escaped the relegation zone, leaving only Ipswich Town on goal difference.
2.Tosin Adarabioyo put Chelsea ahead when he took a close-range chance to finish what was a well-timed delivery into the box. His sidefoot finish gave the home side an early advantage, and Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration at hope for at least some much-needed boost to their faltering league campaign.
But, first-half stoppage time saw Chelsea’s run halted after a rare mistake by goalkeeper Robert Sánchez in the penalty box area. He let the ball in the corner uneventfully, and suddenly Matt Doherty popped up to even things out for Wolves. Chelsea had almost always been conceding leads in the games they played, and fear had grown among its fans. They feared that it would, once again, happen to their team.
On the contrary, however, Chelsea exhibited grit and determination in the second half. Eight minutes into the hour, Marc Cucurella brought Chelsea back into the lead, having settled down with a cool finish off the first meeting with a nifty flick on the part of Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, who was making his league debut for Chelsea. The Blues once again reaped the rewards of their pressing play, as Noni Madueke stabbed his header in off the post for a second goal just five minutes later, cementing the lead. Eventually, the initial cross had come in from Madueke, only for the header by Trevoh Chalobah to just about make it-carrying Madueke to be 99.8 % assured that the goal stood.
3. “Teaching process is a very good coach. This is the drive.” Madueke told Sky Sports after the game. “It’s the striker’s instinct thing,” Madueke explained. “I knew it was going over the line. I had to put it in the net.” I just felt a bit of sympathy for Trevoh, as the ball hit his head and went over the goal line, whereas Madueke was making certain that goal stood. I told him: ‘This is what they pay me for!'”
Chelsea recorded a 3-1 win their 40th point during match number 22, thereby allowing the team to stand 10th an entire 10-point gap behind the championship leaders Liverpool with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest on its heels just with 4 points ahead of it. So the Blues are now just holding on to a 2-point lead with limited room over system title rivals from Manchester City and Newcastle.
The coach seemed overjoyed after the game, much pleased with the response of his team for the turn of events in the second half. “Until the 40th minute, the performance was very good, but we did get a little bit after that. It seemed to have knocked our confidence, which had been somewhat of a problem, on the season. This is very reparable, albeit regaining composure and thus getting the goals needed in the second half. Overall, I find what they get in the match well-deserved,” quoted Maresca, as he told BBC shortly after the final whistle in Chelsea’s home encounter with Reading. ‘If at all, it is something that arises from within his hips,
4. Maresca also spoke of his delight at bringing back club captain Reece James, who made his first start in weeks after overcoming an injury crisis. His mere presence on the field has acted as a boost for the team both defensively and offensively.
The Chelsea coach also noted that Chalobah has performed impressively defensively and has been, for the moment, the mainstay in the absence of such defenders as Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile because for “all the care they can take” on the defensive front by the entire team, they will never be as sturdy as Chalobah during what has to be irregularly occasional fluctuations.
It was an outstanding result amidst a number of absent big guns, among whom midfielder Levi Colwill and the two midfielders Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernández stand far out. It was thus obvious that Chelsea has built up some iron inside, and may be the solid foundation to adjust onto particularly against what would be one of the big encounters on Saturday with Manchester City.
5. Chelsea would for the first time in five games enjoy a much deserved break from five matches without victory in a row while setting some momentum and confidence for themselves in an Ed breaking, stunning victory against the Wolves. Maresca and his team will now have many a mouth watering visit that will be coming their way to take on probably their biggest rivals-Manchester City at the Etihad, and will be hoping to build on that and consolidate their position within the top four as they push for a place in the next edition of the elite Champions League tournament.
With a growing number of fit men as well as a strengthening sense of trust, Chelsea will hope to build success upon success and maintain something positive in their bid for domestic league glory.