Former Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton was impressed with one of the tactics Chelsea used against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Chelsea beat Aston Villa comfortably, winning 3-0 after goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer.
The Blues remain level on points with London rivals Arsenal, meaning that they are nine behind league leaders Liverpool.
While Arne Slot’s men are not completely out of sight, Palmer has suggested that Chelsea aren’t in the title race.
Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match be...
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Mark Warburton praises Chelsea’s pressing
Whatever the case, Chelsea put in a top performance against Villa over the weekend.
For Warburton, the way Enzo Maresca got them to press was fantastic, with their first goal coming from Marc Cucurella applying pressure in Villa’s half.
While on commentary duty for the BBC, Warburton said: “All credit to Chelsea’s press, they won the ball high. It was a great overlap from Marc Cucurella and Chelsea get their reward. The press is proving to be so effective.”
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Cucurella was named in BBC Sport’s Team of The Week by another BBC pundit, Troy Deeney, following his performance.
The Chelsea player who really impressed Mark Warburton
Warburton also had time to praise one of Chelsea’s summer signings during the Blues’ win against Villa.
While he could not get his name on the scoresheet like Jackson, Fernandez and Palmer, Forest’s former boss was still impressed with Pedro Neto‘s performance.
“Pedro Neto is such a threat,” Warburton said after one of Neto’s duels with Lucas Digne. “He sold Lucas Digne then and the 1v1 was clearly won. Neto has been a clear threat.”
Neto missed Chelsea’s 2-1 win against Leicester City because of a knock, but he was fit enough to start at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Chelsea are back in action again on Wednesday, and the winger will be hoping to retain his place in the side.
There is obviously a lot of competition, though, with Noni Madueke also looking to start on the right at St Mary’s.
He came on in the second half of Chelsea’s latest victory and assisted Palmer’s beautiful curler. It will now be interesting to see whom Maresca goes with when his side take on Southampton later this week. The Chelsea boss will just be happy to have options.
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