After two dismal performances against Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea fans were beginning to question the direction in which the club was going.
Nevertheless, Wednesday night’s performance showed Mauricio Pochettino and his Chelsea team have character. They proved it with a 3-1 win against Unai Emery’s high-flying Aston Villa in the FA Cup Fourth Round replay at Villa Park.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe biggest criticism from the fans was the way Pochettino has set up the team. Chelsea’s midfield trio of Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, and Moises Caicedo worked perfectly, with Caicedo and Gallagher protecting the back four.
Using Fernandez as a number eight, to assist the front three of Cole Palmer, Nicholas Jackson, and Noni Madueke with attacks, caused chaos for Villa’s defenders.
The substitutes Raheem Sterling, Thiago Silva, Alfie Gilchrist, and Christopher Nkunku were superb in keeping up the tempo of the performance.
Embed from Getty ImagesPerhaps, Belle Silva‘s (Thiago Silva’s wife) outburst at the club may have galvanised Thiago and his teammates to put their egos aside and start performing.
Embed from Getty Images“It’s time to change. If you wait any longer it will be too late.
Silva: Caught Offside
And even though the manager’s response was to drop the 39-year-old on the bench, it had an immediate impact on the team’s performance as well as his.
Perhaps it’s time the team should make Belle their lucky mascot.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Blues Boss was proud of the team’s performance and justified the mindset of his players.
It was one of the best performances of the season. I think the players really enjoyed the game and yes, I think we played well against a very difficult team. Aston Villa are doing a terrific job – they are in a position in the top four and they are, I think, the second-best team playing at home.
Pochettino BBC Sport
He also emphasized the importance of the situation at the club and gave the players motivation for the challenges that lie ahead this season.
“Too many things happen when you lose a game. I am older than them and I think I take these things in a different way. But we are Chelsea, we need to accept that Chelsea provokes these things. The expectation is massive. Sometimes the expectation is not easy because we are still a young team. But we are growing in a really good way.
Pochettino
Next week, Chelsea faces two tough challenges away at Crystal Palace, on Monday. Followed by an even tougher test against Manchester City next Saturday, before the ultimate test against Liverpool in the EFL Cup Final on the 25th.
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This could well be a defining two-and-a-half weeks for Chelsea and the rest of their season, particularly if they are to stand a chance of getting European football.
Could this be the start of a bright future for Chelsea?
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