This was a big game for Chelsea, for so long this season they have failed to perform when asked. Suggestions have been refuted that the players are not playing for Antonio Conte anymore.
Conte himself wielded his big stick prior to the game by axing Antonio Rudiger for comments made, concerning tactics, after the West Ham game. Chelsea FC are once again in full meltdown mode.
Once the game was underway the hope was all that would be forgotten, and the players would knuckle down to the task in hand of seeing off Southampton. The Saints themselves, have not been in top form this campaign and are fighting to avoid the drop into the Championship.
With Mark Hughes now in the hot seat, the Southampton fans would expect a positive reaction. Conte ought to have drilled that possibility into his players heads. If he did, they didn’t listen. it was a familiar lacklustre start by Chelsea that just got worse.
The sun was on their backs and their heads were on the beach. They have the look of a side that can’t wait for the season to end. Chelsea’s build up play was too slow, their final ball lacking. Any chances that came their way, snuffed out by the Southampton defence.
On the touchline Conte was apathetic to what he was seeing, the players just pathetic. Southampton fought for every ball while Chelsea went through the motions. Alvaro Morata was once again at his petulant best, contesting every decision and falling over too easily, whilst Olivier Giroud sat on the bench.
It was an ex-Chelsea player, Ryan Bertrand, who set up the Saints goal. He ran down the left drifted into the penalty area, out-muscled Cesar Azpilicueta and picked out Dusan Tadic, who fired home. That, midway through the half. Chelsea’s response was carry on doing what they had already been doing.
The half got scrappier as tempers flared. Conte was unanimated and resigned to another defeat and the game hadn’t reached half-time. With the tackles flying in, their best hope was to have an extra man as the Saints applied Hughes strong-arm tactics.
Into the second half and it was more of the same really. Antonio Conte has presided over the worst period of Chelsea’s history under the ownership of Roman Abramovich. Quite how he’s still employed is anyone’s guess.
A debatable free-kick led to Southampton’s second goal on 60 minutes. The floated in for Bednarek to score. Chelsea were in disarray, their season in free-fall. Conte replace the ailing Morata with Giroud and Zappacosta with Pedro.
The introduction of Giroud was to be the catalyst that ultimately changed the direction of the game. The Frenchman has watched Morata from the bench since his arrival back in January. Conte didn’t want him so why play him. Giroud was about to tell him.
Having been on for 10 minutes it was Giroud that got back a crucial goal. It was a fine cross and matching header that gave the Chelsea faithful some hope. Suddenly Chelsea looked up for the fight.
On 75 minutes Eden Hazard popped up in the box and fired Chelsea’s equaliser into the top of the net. This was an unprecedented performance in a season that has delivered so little. Southampton were shell shocked, Hughes apoplectic. Could Chelsea really snatch the win after being so abject.
The answer was a most definite yes. It was that man Giroud again, showing Morata how to be a striker. Giroud had entered the field like a caged animal, starved and ready for action. Just nineteen minutes after coming on the turnaround was complete when the Frenchman stabbed the ball home from inside the penalty area.
There’s no working this Chelsea team out. The result takes away from what was a poor overall performance. The game was literally turned on its head by Olivier GIroud. The Frenchman has mugged off his manager and fellow striker during a 25 minute spell that showed more passion than either of the former had all game.
The first name on the team sheet from now until the end of the season has to Olivier Giroud. He’s said he wants to play, and he wants to score goals. Today, he proved his point impressively, doing both. He saved what would have been another abject performance. The Chelsea fans who had travelled would have grateful for that even if his manager wasn’t.
Final Score: Southampton 2-3 Chelsea