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Some of the brilliant Chelsea moments you may have missed on television during the 3-0 win against Aston Villa.
For those who love the headlines, this was an absolute thrashing from Chelsea, and they should have had more than the 3-0 they recorded at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer, before getting the third of the game and his eighth of the season, squandered a few chances. Nicolas Jackson was equally guilty in what was truly a one-sided affair in the Premier League.
During the press conference, manager Enzo Maresca was adamant that this team was still not ready to challenge the big boys, despite sitting joint second on the league table. But the indicators point to a team growing in every direction and overachieving on their metrics. In fact, by the time Cole Palmer added a brilliant third, they had already cruised to the win, and his goal only served to dress it up. Last season, some called this team the "Cole Palmer team." No one is saying that now.
So, in a game that could have been a potential banana peel in the past, here are a few things you might not have seen on television.
Reece James in good spirits, playing his role from the sidelines
As has been the tradition for most of the season, injured captain Reece James was back with the team. He was full of smiles, took time to sign a few autographs for fans just behind the manager, and made it a point to embrace every player after the final whistle. He even had a word with Wesley Fofana, who had picked up a hamstring injury.
No messing about from the boss
In high-level sports, every minute counts, and Maresca, who is always pacing around his box, timed his substitutes so precisely that when he realised both Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho had run their race and needed fresh legs, he called on Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke, who were warming up.
When they came back, you could hear the Chelsea manager urging them: "Quick, quick!", in a bid to get them ready and into the game quickly. They duly obliged, and within half a minute, they were ready to come on.
If there’s one area Maresca has massively improved, it’s the way he gets players coming off the bench looking to prove a point. The minutes are there for everyone, but you first have to earn them.
Renato Veiga is your ultimate team player
One of the best things from the game was how Renato Veiga supported Robert Sánchez. Leading up to the game, much of the focus had been on Sánchez's form, and during one moment, the goalkeeper was pressed and he kicked the ball out. The atmosphere in the stadium grew edgy, but Veiga made sure to clap for him and give him a thumbs-up to keep going.
In the end, Sánchez kept a massive clean sheet, which will do his confidence a world of good. You need teammates who back you up that way. It was so refreshing especially so early on.
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Enzo Maresca’s psychology is as good as his coaching
Some say you have to be very good at psychology to be a good manager, and Chelsea’s boss did something brilliant for Wesley Fofana that was simply all-around smart.
In the early part of the game, when Villa looked strong, Fofana lost a one-on-one battle with Ollie Watkins, which saw the Villa striker through on goal. It took a combination of a poor finish and good goalkeeping from Sánchez to deny him. However, Maresca was quick to get Fofana’s attention, immediately giving him a thumbs-up and urging him to keep going. It’s fair to say that the next five one-on-ones with Watkins were all won by the French defender.
Small actions like that are golden, they keep players' confidence high and push everyone to give that extra yard.
Every break is an opportunity to take on new information
This is not a new thing, but it was quite evident again: almost every break in play saw Chelsea players coming to the bench for fresh information. Whether it's after a goal is scored or someone is injured and needs treatment, at least one player comes to the bench. They first look for water, then take in new information to either improve their own game or pass it on to someone else.
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