Unai Emery reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park
Unai Emery reacts during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park
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Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick as Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a handsome 4-1 win at Aston Villa as Villa Park boss Unai Emery admitted his side are in a "bad moment".
Pedro’s first Premier League treble saw Liam Rosenior’s side climb into the top five and move just three points behind a faltering Villa side in fourth. Cole Palmer also scored on a memorable night for the Blues, who showed spirit to come from behind after Douglas Luiz’s opener.
We take a look at some of the headlines doing the rounds as Villa's UCL hopes took a real dent in a game that was described as a 'season defining' fixture by our own reporter, John Townley.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park
Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match at Villa Park
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FootballLondon writes: "When it was absolutely imperative to win, Chelsea did. Lose against Aston Villa and Unai Emery's side would go nine points clear of the Blues, lose and Chelsea would have failed to capitalise on Liverpool's slip up at Molineux, lose and the fan base would not have been a very positive place.
"Joao Pedro, though, wants Champions League football more than anyone else, seemingly. The 24-year-old forward has been exceptional for a couple of months now and the £60million Chelsea paid Brighton for his services last summer is looking like more and more of a bargain with each goal.
"The Brazil international has 17 of those now (in all competitions), 14 in the Premier League. Joao Pedro also has the joint-second most non-penalty goals in the league. He is well on course now to reach 20 goals - and if so, he will become the first striker to do that for Chelsea since Diego Costa in 2016/17, almost a decade ago.
"What is even more impressive is the former Brighton man's knack of producing when Chelsea need him most. He was the match-winner in Naples in January, when the Blues needed three points in order to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages via the top eight and he did it again on Wednesday evening in a victory that might prove pivotal in their season."
Liam Rosenior and Alejandro Garnacho
Liam Rosenior and Alejandro Garnacho after Chelsea's win at Aston Villa(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA)
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'Matty Cash is a top full back and he did a job on him.'
The Mirror had this to say: "Liam Rosenior was full of praise for Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho following the Blues' win over Aston Villa. Rosenior's side put Unai Emery's side to the sword to record a 4-1 victory after going behind after just two minutes at Villa Park.
"Joao Pedro will have stolen the headlines with his impressive hat-trick after Douglas Luiz's opening effort, and Cole Palmer found the net as he looks to return to his best form. But former Manchester United ace Garnacho received plenty of attention at full-time for his performance.
"Chelsea boss Rosenior emphasised that his charge had been disappointed not to play of late and lauded Garnacho's efforts in training. Speaking following the match, the head coach was unequivocal in his assessment after the winger proved him right that he'd have an impressive game.
“He’s outstanding. He was outstanding," Rosenior said. "I’ve had a lot of conversations with him. I said in there, I knew he’d play well tonight because of how he has been training the last ten days and two weeks. He’s been disappointed not to play and he should be.
“In a positive way, he’s shown that in his training and the meetings we’ve had. Not just going forward but defensively, Matty Cash is a top full back and he did a job on him."
Joao Pedro
Joao Pedro scored his first Chelsea hat-trick in the Blues' win at Aston Villa(Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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RTE stated: "Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick as Chelsea boosted their Champions League qualification hopes with a handsome 4-1 win at Aston Villa."
"Pedro's first Premier League treble saw Liam Rosenior’s side climb into the top five and move just three points behind a faltering Villa side in fourth.
"Cole Palmer also scored on a memorable night for the Blues, who showed spirit to come from behind after Douglas Luiz’s opener.
"It was by far the best performance of Rosenior’s two months in charge and they will approach the remainder of the season with confidence."
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: David Horton - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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"Unai Emery claimed last week that it was ‘necessary’ for England’s wealthiest clubs to play in Europe’s top competition but only one of these sides needs to be in the Champions League next term and it isn’t Chelsea.
"Sure, the Blues crave the prestige and glory of playing among Europe’s elite but they generate enough revenue off the pitch not to depend on it, at least not yet. It is another matter for wobbling Aston Villa, whose immediate future could depend on whether they finish in the top five this term.
"Always walking a tightrope with UEFA and Premier League spending rules, Villa are likely to sell key players to balance the books if they miss out on Champions League football again.."
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