From Selhurst Park – Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel will have been able to sleep peacefully in recent weeks, after finally dispelling Frank Lampard’s longtime ghost.
But while it is impossible to argue with an unbeaten 14-match unbeaten run, some skeptics will point to the overwhelming draw against Southampton and Leeds as important points were lost in the top four draw.
That streak had become something of a false friend, with an unexpected European adventure, which means that Tuchel is forced to weigh his priorities every week.
Tuchel has had to weigh up its priorities for the late Pool / Getty Images
Then came last weekend, when the Germans’ prospects were forcibly shaken into focus by none other than Big Sam Allardyce.
After a few too many weeks and months of very ordinary “normal Barclays”, the Premier League threw up one of those game weeks; Tottenham somehow failed to beat the worst team the division has ever seen in Newcastle, Arsenal were thumped by a re-inflated Liverpool and Southampton came from two goals down to beat Burnley 3-2.
But this weekend’s result came in Saturday’s early kick-off, when Western Brazil sent the ten-man Chelsea back to the pre-Roman Abramovich era with a resounding 5-2 victory at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues were well beaten by West Brom | Clive Rose / Getty Images
After being noticed as collateral for Champions League qualifiers after their resurgence under tactician Tuchel, the Blues were fifth, with the once endless, relentless fixture list now shrinking.
It was therefore absolutely necessary that Chelsea had almost certainly sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the middle of the week, in Crystal Palace in Saturday’s late kick – especially after Liverpool pushed them further down the table with victory earlier today.
And answer they did. The West Londoners have been producing their finest half of domestic football since Tuchel was appointed, camping in the Palace half and dismantling their sad hosts piece by piece.
In what felt like a training exercise, Kai Havertz opened the scoring with an incorrect side-footed attempt over the goalkeeper with just eight minutes on the clock. The young German’s first goal under Tuchel would serve as the key to the lock sports.
?? Class by Kai! ??
This is how Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Chelsea, cool as you like …?
? Watch Sky Sports PL? Follow #CRYCHE here: https: //t.co/iaAuJRcqnS? Download the app @SkySports! pic.twitter.com/BZYz0YKEQl
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 10, 2021
The 21-year-old was imperious during the first period as a false nine, later dazzling with a chapêau over a defender before seeing his low run tipped wide by Vicente Guaita.
Two minutes later from the opening, Christian Pulisic doubled the lead when he almost hit the ball with a left throw into the roof of the net – strangely enough, an almost carbon copy of the goal he made on the same ground after the restart last season.
20 minutes and a header after Kurt Zouma later, Chelsea had done three times for the first time under Tuchel and the job was done.
⚽️ Kurt Zouma scores his fifth PL goal of the season, mostly by a defender – as Chelsea score 3+ goals for the first time in Tuchel’s 17 responsible matches pic.twitter.com/4nSlheL3A5
– Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 10, 2021
Perhaps inevitably, the second half was tougher business, with Christian Benteke’s fine nod that kept the guests on their toes. Pulisic, however, hung up a brace with a vintage to loosen all the nerves and see his side through to the final whistle.
While Chelsea’s run to the last four of Europe’s top club competition is a welcome distraction from the occasional monotony of domestic football, this campaign, once the club is restored to the continent’s top table, is still the best path to next season’s Premier League edition.
Just as last week’s embarrassment felt like the worst possible moment was coming, Chelsea’s discovery of a clinical sense of purpose has come at an opportune time. Tuchel’s accusations emphatically answered the question of whether the West Brom debacle was a blip that could be taken in isolation, or a sign that they could return to the levels of the last days of the Lampard era.
Pulisic and Havertz were the key to Chelsea | Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
With either or both of West Ham and Leicester set to drop points when they face each other on Sunday, the Blues are still well placed to get the job done.
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