Chelsea are starting to motor in the Premier League, only weeks after the pressure was seriously starting to mount on Mauricio Pochettino.
It was a late, late show. But a brace from Conor Gallagher and another strike from Enzo Fernandez ensured Chelsea secured a deserved 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Glenn Hoddle praised Chelsea’s big-money capture for the composure he showcased for his stoppage-time goal, with Michael Owen adding that he is ‘absolute class’, as they told Premier League Productions (12/02/24 at 10:20 pm).
At one point, Mauricio Pochettino would have been fearing that his team were going to lose, or then drop two points.
But Conor Gallagher stepped forward on both fronts and netted the equaliser, as well as the 90th-minute winner, before Enzo Fernandez added the cherry on the cake in stoppage time.
The £180k-a-week star was praised for the composure he showcased when he was fed the ball by Cole Palmer, who bagged himself two assists in the space of a few minutes.
Both the pass and finish were a prime example of how you don’t need to rush things in the game because it was like it was done in slow motion.
Enzo Fernandez scores again for Chelsea
“Palace send everyone up, and rightly so, they have to take a chance, it’s a set play,” said Hoddle. “One pass forward and look at the space they have got.
“They are now two v two. Then it becomes three v two really. He makes so much ground up. I love this. This is an eight-a-side goal when you are playing no offsides. He (Fernandez) has chopped it back on the defender, but it’s a fabulous run from Palmer.
“He keeps his head, he is waiting and waiting. Then there it is, the little chop back there. I done you once, I done it twice. I will put it in the top corner, shall I?! Fabulous finish, it really is.”
Owen added: “Just class, isn’t he?! In fact, I was shouting ‘pass it’. Then he took his time, and another five minutes later, he is shimming, then he puts it in. He is absolute top class.”
Chelsea looking up
There have been many big tests for Pochettino recently, no more so than the past week, which also saw his side claim a valuable FA Cup win at Villa Park.
But these next few weeks will be much, much bigger and it could just determine how these Chelsea fans truly feel about their manager.
Starting with a trip to Manchester City on Saturday for a tricky Premier League showdown, it’s two very tough cup games that follow.
The big one against Liverpool at Wembley for the League Cup final, before rounding off the month by facing Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge.
If three defeats follow, then the calls for Pochettino to go will be louder than they have ever been.
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