Before
Manchester United produced the latest-ever collapse in Premier League
history at Chelsea, days after losing a lead in stoppage-time at Brentford,
Erik ten Hag appeared to tell Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS not to interrupt
his progress at Old Trafford.
Although he did not mention his new bosses by name, it is hard to see who
else his words were aimed at. "We are in a good way, a good direction and we
need to make the next steps," he said. "Don't interrupt this process."
For the final half an hour at Stamford Bridge, until Cole Palmer's late
interventions, Ten Hag on the face of things was delivering on his comments.
Had United held on to win, or even draw, it would have only kicked the can
further down the road though.
Ten Hag's side are perennially stretched. He says his players should have
done their jobs after chaos ensued. You do have to question though why time
and again they do not seem to be able to. Something is not right.
Chelsea had 28 shots on Thursday. Brentford had 31 on Saturday. Liverpool
had 25 shots before the international break. Ten Hag's system is demanding
so much of a group of players that do not suit his high-octane approach.
The Dutchman may need time and another overhaul to achieve the goal he set
out earlier this week. His problem, however, is that INEOS may not be so
patient. Especially if defeats of this manner continue in the final weeks of
the season.
Carra pokes fun at Neville 'bottle jobs'
jibe
After the game, Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher poked fun at his fellow pundit
Gary Neville on social media.
He posted 'billion pound bottle jobs' with a crying laughing emoji face
after Chelsea's last-gasp win against Neville's former team.
It was a response to Neville's jibe against Chelsea after the Carabao Cup
final, when he said on Sky Sports: "It's Klopp's kids against the
billion-pound bottle jobs."
As Jamie Carragher pointed out, United lost in dramatic late fashion to the
team named 'The Blue Billion Pound Bottle Jobs'. What does that make Ten
Hag's Man Utd?
Zinny Boswell
Is this Poch's turning point at Chelsea?
This is the moment Mauricio Pochettino has been waiting for. Many of his
comments after disappointing games this season - many Chelsea have thrown
away of their own accord - have been about finding the right mentality,
working hard and doing so as a team.
Those were all qualities Chelsea showed during their epic, last-gasp 4-3
win. Yes, there were errors, Moises Caicedo's the most glaring. The marking
for Bruno Fernandes' equaliser was questionable too. Chelsea were not
perfect by any means, but their persistence paid off.
Cole Palmer, too, is looking to be one of the signings of last summer, and
is spearheading this new era under Pochettino. He is matching, breaking and
creating records every week, and must be the player Chelsea build their
future around.
Pochettino's emphatic celebrations after Palmer's winner show just how big
this result is. It will do little to boost any league aspirations, but the
effect it can have on confidence and performance could be invaluable.
As the manager agrees in its importance, saying: "It was amazing. We
deserved it, we were the better team... For the connection with the fans it
is an important day. It should be a turning point."
His job now is to harness that feeling and use it to inspire his players
going forward. Let's not forget, they have an FA Cup semi-final in a few
weeks in a competition that will be their only chance of silverware this
season.
But a little revel in such a win before turning to Sheffield United is more
than justified. It could be the turning point of Chelsea's season after all.
Charlotte Marsh
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