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Chelsea’s emphatic 4-0 victory over a beleaguered Southampton side will have brought some welcome relief to the Blues’ faithful. However, the triumph was tempered by the knowledge that it came against a team that is staring relegation squarely in the face. The Saints’ dismal recent form has seen them ship an alarming 2.41 goals per game, while their paltry return of just three points from their last 17 outings has left them rooted to the foot of the table.
With nothing but pride to play for, it’s little wonder that Chelsea’s fans were not exactly overflowing with excitement. Before the game, a group of around 150 Chelsea supporters had gathered on Fulham Road to express their discontent with the club’s ownership. The protesters, who were demanding greater investment in the team, made their feelings clear with a series of chants and placards. One homemade banner, which read “We’re not Arsenal,” served as a poignant reminder of the gulf that has opened up between Chelsea and the Premier League’s elite.
The Blues’ recent form has been patchy, to say the least. A run of just two wins in 10 Premier League games had seen them slip down the table, and the pressure was beginning to build on manager Enzo Maresca. Had they beaten Everton three days before Christmas, Chelsea would have gone top of the table, but instead, they’ve been struggling to find consistency. Whether it was fair or not, there was a sense that they had been elevated to a false position by a spell of unsustainably excellent form from Cole Palmer.
However, the Italian manager will have been heartened by his team’s dominant display against Southampton. Chelsea’s injury woes have been well-documented, and the absence of key players like Wesley Fofana, Roméo Lavia, and Nicolas Jackson has forced Maresca to get creative with his team selection. The decision to deploy Pedro Neto as a central forward, for example, was a bold one, but it ultimately paid off as the Portuguese winger scored the second goal of the game and assisted the third.
Christopher Nkunku has also been asked to adapt to a new role. The Frenchman’s occasionally erratic movement has been a source of frustration for some fans, but he remains a potent threat in front of goal. His clever header after 24 minutes set Chelsea on their way, and he later played a key role in the build-up to Neto’s second goal. The Frenchman have endured a couple of weeks struggling in the absence of Nicholas Jackson, but his returns tonight might as well be a turning point for him, despite being the club’s joint highest goalscorer this season with 14 goals across all competitions.
As the game wore on, Chelsea’s dominance only grew. Levi Colwill’s powerful header just before half-time made it 3-0, and Marc Cucurella’s breakaway goal in the second half sealed the win. For Southampton, it was another dispiriting defeat in a season that has been marked by struggle and disappointment. The Saints’ lack of fight and organization was evident throughout the game, and it’s clear that they’re facing a long and difficult road to recovery.
While Chelsea’s fans will have been pleased with the win, they know that their team still has a long way to go, especially in the race for a Champions League spot finish. The Blues’ recent form has been inconsistent, and they face a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks. However, with players like Nkunku and Neto whose performances tonight if replicated continually, Chelses will be confident of picking up some valuable points. The challenge for Maresca and his team will be to build on this win and find some much-needed consistency in their performances in the coming games.
