Source: chelseafc.com
Chelsea finally seems to have found the solution to its striking struggles. Costa took his goal haul to seven in four matches with the treble against Swansea while Loic Remy also scored on his debut since joining from Queens Park Rangers. Chelsea’s fourth win in four matches ended Swansea’s perfect start to the Premier League season.
Swansea City created the early threats and their opening goal was not the shock. They started off very brightly and pressing Chelsea players to the limit. Their first goal was the result of good pressing. Routledge pressured Matic and took the ball away. Chelsea was on the back foot in first 25-30 minutes of the game.
Chelsea’s response was led by Eden Hazard. He took the initiative and started running at players. Jordi Amat and Jonjo Shelvey were booked for fouling him, as Swansea were gradually penned back. Hazard completed 16 take-ons [out of 18].
Eden Hazard’s influence on the game
Chelsea had started controlling the game. Just at the stroke of half-time, Costa scored from a corner delivered by Fabregas. There was more to come, but only after Mourinho made a telling tactical switch at the break. He introduced Ramires for Schurrle and sent Oscar wide in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Fabregas and Ramires pushed up on Shelvey and Ki, and suddenly Swansea simply could not get out.
The pressure came in waves and it took just ten minutes for the damn to be pierced. It was a lovely goal, a model of quick thinking and movement. Fabregas played a smart one-two with Hazard then cut the ball back for Costa and he scores his second of the game.
Ten minutes later, Ramires pass (unintentional) fell to Costa who was played onside by Taylor, and he tucked in his third and it was game over. Diego Costa has been a revelation for Chelsea. Always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
“Costa has surprised me. To score seven goals in four games is not normal. He cannot keep that up, but it proves we were right to wait [for Costa] and not buy last summer, or in January. The team was built, and waiting for a striker,” said Jose Mourinho.
With Wednesday’s Champions League tie with Schalke 04 in mind Mourinho brought his £32m man off and unveiled Remy. It took the £8.5m recruit just eight minutes to open his account, sweeping home after being set up by Hazard and Oscar. Unlike last season, Chelsea defence, this season, has been poor and it led to another goal from Swansea this time by Jonjo Shelvey who ran through John Terry and Cahill onto Wilfried Bony’s through ball.
Costa will get the plaudits but a word to Eden Hazard here. He was absolutely unplayable.
Garry Monk on Hazard: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player being fouled so much.”
Overall, the quality of this victory was underlined by the form. Both teams had started the season with a trio of victories, testament to the benefits of doing transfer business early and so being able to incorporate new players into the team during pre-season.
“In the first half they were fantastic, in the second half we were fantastic,” said Jose Mourinho. This probably sums up the match.
Sid
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