Jadon Sancho never doubted that his Chelsea side would prevail in Sunday’s 4-3 derby win at Tottenham Hotspur – despite costly slips by Marc Cucurella handing them two early setbacks.
Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski scored in the opening 11 minutes after the Spanish full-back twice slipped over.
But Camberwell-born Sancho, loaned to the Blues from Manchester United in late August with an obligation to buy, drilled in from the edge of the box to halve the deficit in the 17th minute.
Cole Palmer kept up his perfect Premier League penalty record, he has converted all 12, twice beating Fraser Forster from the spot – one of them an impudent Panenka finish.
Enzo Fernandes also slammed home as Chelsea took advantage of Arsenal’s draw at Fulham to go second in the Premier League table, four points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand after their derby at Everton on Saturday was postponed due to Storm Darragh.
Sancho told BBC Match of the Day: “Going 2-0 down in the first half was not ideal but I knew we’d come back into the game when we got that first goal.
“Going in at half-time, the gaffer was telling us we were in the game. I have so much belief in the players so I knew we’d come out firing.
2YW0HYT London, UK. 8th Dec, 2024. GOAL. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) scores his second penalty and Chelseas fourth goal during the Tottenham Hotspur V Chelsea Barclays Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Credit: MARTIN DALTON/Alamy Live News
“They’re very aggressive and we knew we’d catch them if we broke the lines and beat the press. The gaffer told us to stay wide and create the one-on-ones.
“I’ve been working on my shooting a bit more. The staff and the players have been telling me otherwise.”
Chelsea are in Europa Conference League action at Astana on Thursday night.
They are at home to west London rivals Brentford on Sunday (7pm).
“We are trying to work with the players on an off the pitch, but we’re also trying to work on mentality and togetherness,” said Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca after the victory over Spurs. “To come in this stadium and think you are going to win without suffering is impossible.
“Probably it’s the perfect win because two goals down, it was the worst picture for us, even if we were in control. We conceded two goals from Cucu, we created chances, we controlled the game, we kept the ball. At half-time we changed something tactically, and second half we deserved to win.
“First half we had Cole Palmer on one side, and Enzo Fernandez on the other. Second-half we had Palmer on one side, and Cucurella on the other, and we changed something in behind. It worked quite well.
“The plan, the idea, is don’t allow them to slow down. Day by day, in every session, they cannot drop because if one drops the other player is in behind and ready to play. They know that.
“Today Pedro Neto was fantastic – last week Noni Madueke did the same. This is what we need from all of them.
“We are not ready (to win the title). We are far from this team. We are focused on the day by day, improving players and play the game – no more than that.”
PICTURES: ALAMY