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Mauricio Pochettino commended Chelsea’s rebound from consecutive losses in the Premier League as they bounced back to defeat Sheffield United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
After a lackluster first half and previous defeats against Manchester United and Everton, the hosts made a comeback by scoring two rapid goals in the second half. The goals were netted by Nicolas Jackson and the influential Cole Palmer.
Palmer and Raheem Sterling combined effectively for the first goal, with summer acquisition from Manchester City, Sterling, passing the ball wide and then making a run into the box to easily score from Sterling’s low cross.
Palmer played a crucial role in the second goal, just minutes after the first. He sent a lofted pass into the penalty area for Sterling and Gallagher to go after. The goalkeeper, Wes Foderingham, fumbled the ball and Palmer was quick to pass it back to Jackson who scored, bringing the score to 2-0.
The first half was frustrating for the home fans, as their team only managed one shot on goal despite having 80% possession against the lowest-ranked team in the league.
Palmer’s timely involvement in the 54th minute led to a brilliant pass to Sterling, who used a burst of speed to get past his defender and score. This play marked the beginning and end of the action that ultimately broke through the Blades’ defense, following a slow start to the game.
His contribution to the second goal served as a reminder of the 21-year-old’s ability to potentially change the outcome of a game on his own, especially as Pochettino’s team was facing another game without scoring.
Later, the manager highlighted a shift in position during the second half – switching with Sterling to play a more central role – as the crucial factor.
Pochettino expressed that after the Everton game, there was a lot of discussion about the need for significant changes. It was crucial to reaffirm that we are on the right track. The team was disappointed in the first half due to our inability to break through Sheffield United’s defensive strategy.
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“We were not able to demonstrate adaptability, making it simple for our opponents to pinpoint our strategy and prevent us from advancing by forcing us to make predictable moves.”
“We improved significantly in the second half after making necessary adjustments. The team began to discover more opportunities to play and connect more effectively. Cole, who was positioned on the right side, started to link up better with his teammates and perform as the playmaker we envision.”
Pochettino chose to keep midfielder Enzo Fernandez on the bench, opting to have Gallagher play in the central midfield alongside Moises Caicedo.
The manager affirmed that the winner of the World Cup will probably come back for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at home on Tuesday.
He stated, “You are only allowed to play 11 players.” In a major competition, it is necessary to select the most suitable players for different situations. Today, the best combination was using Caicedo and Gallagher with Cole in the number 10 position.
“I am pleased because getting three points is crucial, and we have an important match against Newcastle on Tuesday. It’s essential to go into that game with a positive mindset and the belief that we can succeed.”
Chris Wilder, manager of Blades, looked back on a match where his team made their fans who traveled proud.
“I’m not a fan of one player breaking off to applaud the supporters themselves. If we’re going to do it, we should do it together,” he stated.
It was crucial for me that they received that message promptly, as we were competing against a skilled manager and talented individuals for a significant amount of time. We fought hard to stay in the game.
Source: independent.co.uk
