Chelsea FC v Aston Villa FC - Premier League - Source: Getty
Chelsea FC v Aston Villa FC - Premier League - Source: Getty
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca has singled out the duo of Cole Palmer and Joao Felix as show-stoppers in his team after the win over Aston Villa on December 1. The Blues picked up all three points with a comfortable performance at home in the Premier League. They scored three unanswered goals and kept a clean sheet.
After successive wins over Leicester City and Heidenheim, Maresca welcomed UEFA Champions League campaigners Aston Villa to his home ground. The visitors were on a run of seven games without a win, and Chelsea hardly broke a sweat as they extended Villa's run.
In the aftermath of a dominant showing that birthed a first home clean sheet of the campaign, Enzo Maresca had praise for Cole Palmer and Joao Felix. Speaking via BBC Sport journalist Nizaar Kinsella, he referred to the duo as "different" and people who fans specifically come to watch in the stadium.
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“Cole Palmer and Joao Felix are the players that make people pay for ticket, it doesn’t mean the rest aren’t good but they are different from the rest," Maresca said (via CfcPys).
Cole Palmer ended his mini-drought after failing to score or assist in three league games for the Blues. He scored and assisted in the 3-0 win over Unai Emery's side on Sunday. Portugal international Felix came off the bench in the 86th minute as a replacement for Palmer and came close to adding his name to the scoresheet.
Maresca's side continued to impress, remaining within six points of leaders Liverpool, who have played a game less after the Villa game. The Blues moved up to third place, level on points with Arsenal, who are above them by alphabetical order.
Chelsea ease past Aston Villa to go third
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was left with a huge smile on his face as his side picked up a routine 3-0 win over Unai Emery's Aston Villa. They moved up to third place in the league. The Blues dominated and overpowered their opponents in a game where Maresca showed once more his tactical flexibility.
Playing in front of their fans, the Blues needed just seven minutes to go ahead as Nicolas Jackson finished expertly at the near post for his eighth league goal. They doubled their advantage nine minutes before the break, with Cole Palmer feeding Enzo Fernandez to score his second goal in as many games.
Chelsea lost Wesley Fofana to injury in the second half. However, managed to kill off the game in the 83rd minute, with Palmer curling home delightfully from the edge of the box. The Blues managed to see out the game without Villa breaching their backline to pick up a third successive win.