The Blues will take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final next month.
It was curious timing that Eden Hazard sprung himself back into top form during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Only during the week had the Belgian criticised himself for his own performances and his showing on the pitch on Sunday afternoon looked exactly like a man who had something to prove.
Whenever he picked up the ball he was positive, he drove into the heart of the Saints defence and for much of the game they were chasing shadows.
He also had his swagger back, with a wonderful Rabona cross that almost found a Chelsea head, and he looked like the ‘big match’ player that had been escaping him at times this season.
But what was most exciting was the fact that he wasn’t afraid to try his luck from distance, and it showed just how good he is from that kind of range.
Too often this season the 27-year-old has decided against shooting when the chance presented itself to him, but yesterday he let fly on goal and almost found the back of the net on a couple of occasions.
When he plays off the left, he looks dangerous and he picked up the ball deep to run, spin and lay in his team-mates. By far his best position gets by far his best results.
Caballero to start final?
Once again Willy Caballero proved himself to be a worthy back-up to Thibaut Courtois, even if it was a surprise to see him starting such a big match for the Blues.
Usually when you get to the semi-final, the manager will bring in his number one shotstopper again, and on a couple of occasions Antonio Conte might have wished he had.
A few misplaced passes made the Argentine look a little suspect, while Mark Hughes claimed Caballero ‘threw the ball’ into his own net when the referee gave a foul against Charlie Austin.
But his save to deny Nathan Redmond was excellent, even if Hughes once again tried to discredit him, and therefore Conte was justified in keeping faith with the 36-year-old.
Does he start the final? The sentimental type would say yes, let him finish the competition as he started it.
However, this is a cup final against Manchester United, against Jose Mourinho, so Conte might not quite be as sentimental as others might hope.
Conte showing some fire again
One criticism on Conte this season has been his mannerisms on the sidelines, with several claiming that he doesn’t even really care anymore.
It feels a bit premature to be saying that, but it is true that he doesn’t seem to be showing that fire and hunger on the sidelines that he did so often during the title-winning campaign.
Often we would see him running into the crowd or into his coaching staff after a goal, whatever the game and whatever the importance of the goal.
But at Wembley he seemed to have that fire and determination back, orchestrating everything from the sidelines and then jumping with his backroom staff when Alvaro Morata netted the second goal.
That’s the Conte Chelsea fans want to see for the rest of the season and that’s the Conte Chelsea fans certainly fell in love with last year.
Facing Mourinho… again
It had to be Jose Mourinho didn’t it? The last game of the season will be against one of Conte’s great rivals and a former Chelsea boss. Not just any Chelsea manager, but one of the club’s most successful.
Mourinho and Conte have had their confrontations in the press conference rooms this season, and even though Conte played it down after the Southampton win, it certainly adds a certain spice.
The Blues will take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final next month.
It was curious timing that Eden Hazard sprung himself back into top form during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Only during the week had the Belgian criticised himself for his own performances and his showing on the pitch on Sunday afternoon looked exactly like a man who had something to prove.
Whenever he picked up the ball he was positive, he drove into the heart of the Saints defence and for much of the game they were chasing shadows.
He also had his swagger back, with a wonderful Rabona cross that almost found a Chelsea head, and he looked like the ‘big match’ player that had been escaping him at times this season.
But what was most exciting was the fact that he wasn’t afraid to try his luck from distance, and it showed just how good he is from that kind of range.
Too often this season the 27-year-old has decided against shooting when the chance presented itself to him, but yesterday he let fly on goal and almost found the back of the net on a couple of occasions.
When he plays off the left, he looks dangerous and he picked up the ball deep to run, spin and lay in his team-mates. By far his best position gets by far his best results.
Caballero to start final?
Once again Willy Caballero proved himself to be a worthy back-up to Thibaut Courtois, even if it was a surprise to see him starting such a big match for the Blues.
Usually when you get to the semi-final, the manager will bring in his number one shotstopper again, and on a couple of occasions Antonio Conte might have wished he had.
A few misplaced passes made the Argentine look a little suspect, while Mark Hughes claimed Caballero ‘threw the ball’ into his own net when the referee gave a foul against Charlie Austin.
But his save to deny Nathan Redmond was excellent, even if Hughes once again tried to discredit him, and therefore Conte was justified in keeping faith with the 36-year-old.
Does he start the final? The sentimental type would say yes, let him finish the competition as he started it.
However, this is a cup final against Manchester United, against Jose Mourinho, so Conte might not quite be as sentimental as others might hope.
Conte showing some fire again
One criticism on Conte this season has been his mannerisms on the sidelines, with several claiming that he doesn’t even really care anymore.
It feels a bit premature to be saying that, but it is true that he doesn’t seem to be showing that fire and hunger on the sidelines that he did so often during the title-winning campaign.
Often we would see him running into the crowd or into his coaching staff after a goal, whatever the game and whatever the importance of the goal.
But at Wembley he seemed to have that fire and determination back, orchestrating everything from the sidelines and then jumping with his backroom staff when Alvaro Morata netted the second goal.
That’s the Conte Chelsea fans want to see for the rest of the season and that’s the Conte Chelsea fans certainly fell in love with last year.
Facing Mourinho… again
It had to be Jose Mourinho didn’t it? The last game of the season will be against one of Conte’s great rivals and a former Chelsea boss. Not just any Chelsea manager, but one of the club’s most successful.
Mourinho and Conte have had their confrontations in the press conference rooms this season, and even though Conte played it down after the Southampton win, it certainly adds a certain spice.
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