Chelsea 2-1 Brentford: Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson lift Blues to two points off leaders Liverpool
Chelsea capitalized on their opponents' mistakes to close the gap to just two points from the top of the Premier League, although they found it challenging to secure a tight 2-1 victory against Brentford.
The Blues avoided the pitfalls that Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City faced by losing points at home earlier in the weekend. They managed to secure a win against a Bees team that had only earned one point on the road all year, though they had to fight hard to maintain their lead.
They went into halftime with a well-earned advantage after Marc Cucurella scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues just moments before the break. Although they dominated the first half, they hadn't really managed to make many straightforward scoring opportunities.
Nicolas Jackson had a chance to seal the game at the 60-minute mark, but he wasted a good opportunity by sending Jadon Sancho's crucial cross high over the goal from just six yards away. Because of this miss, Chelsea’s slim lead always felt uncertain.
Brentford nearly capitalized on their chance as the tide started to turn. Christian Norgaard produced an incredible fingertip save from Robert Sanchez, and shortly after, Fabio Carvalho's sliding shot hit the crossbar, only inches away from crossing the goal line.
Enzo Maresca's joyful reaction to Jackson's powerful second goal, following a swift counter-attack, perfectly captured the sense of relief at Stamford Bridge with just ten minutes remaining. Chelsea had finally created a buffer to protect as they headed towards victory.
Even so, a risky pass from Cucurella to Moises Caicedo allowed Brentford to launch a counterattack that Bryan Mbeumo capped off with a well-executed finish. This left the Blues to endure a tense seven minutes of stoppage time before they could finally celebrate their hard-earned win and pull ahead of their title challengers.
Cucurella's impressive night took a downturn after the match concluded, as he received a second yellow card following a confrontation with Kevin Schade.
Chelsea: Sanchez (7), Gusto (7), Tosin (6), Colwill (6), Cucurella (7), Caicedo (6), Fernandez (6), Madueke (6), Palmer (7), Sancho (7), Jackson (7).
Brentford: Flekken (7), Van den Berg (6), Collins (7), Pinnock (6), Roerslev (6), Norgaard (7), Yarmolyuk (7), Damsgaard (7), Lewis-Potter (6), Mbeumo (7), Wissa (6).
Substitutes: Carvalho (7), Janelt (6), Schade (6), Ajer (6), Maghoma (not available).
Player of the Game: Nicolas Jackson.
Maresca: Champions Don’t Allow Those Goals
Chelsea's head coach, Enzo Maresca:
Regardless of the number of matches we win, I believe we’re not quite prepared to contend for the championship. One factor contributing to this is that teams that are experienced in winning titles don’t allow as many goals against them as we do.
In the 90th minute, we had a chance with an attacking throw-in. If you think I'm exaggerating or just talking without evidence, I welcome the challenge. However, we’re not fully prepared for various reasons, and one major issue is the goal we let in. That changed the dynamics of the game.
Regarding Marc Cucurella's red card: "The referee informed me that the second yellow card was due to his poor behavior. When the game ended, I was busy celebrating with the coaching staff, so I missed what happened."
"He was among the best along with the other ten players. They did an amazing job, and we're pleased with Marc's performance. Once the game is over, we can approach the situation differently. However, it's a valuable experience for the players to grow from."
Frank: Chelsea's Celebrations Proved We Earned A Point
Brentford's manager, Thomas Frank:
In several respects, we were unfortunate not to come away with anything from the match, at the very least a tie. The second half was excellent; we matched up well against one of the top teams in the Premier League.
"Our performance in the second half was really outstanding. We had two key moments with Christian Norgaard and Fabio Carvalho. After that, we scored and increased the pressure on them, which led them to take their set pieces quickly and retreat to the corner."
"The way they cheered for their second goal and the victory showed how much it meant to them. We must have really challenged them, so I'm very happy with how my team played."
Chelsea Edges Closer To Top, But Title Hopes Fade
Ron Walker from Sky Sports at Stamford Bridge:
Chelsea achieved what Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City could not by securing a victory on their home ground. However, had Brentford taken advantage of their mistakes, it would have been a result of Chelsea's own doing.
Robert Sanchez and Chelsea's choices for centre-back have been pointed out as a major weakness for the team. However, what really stands out is their failure to secure a win against Brentford and the way they allowed a goal to slip through – conceding from a throw-in they had while on the attack. This supports Enzo Maresca's claims that they aren't yet prepared to compete for the title.
On the surface, it may seem like a classic case of a team emerging victorious despite not performing at their best – a true sign of a strong squad.
"However, Chelsea's inability to maintain control against Brentford, a team that had suffered six losses in seven away matches, shows that their maturity is still a work in progress. Brentford almost managed to turn the game in their favor despite their struggling record."
The Blues have made significant progress under Maresca. While their competitors for the title boast seasoned, well-known players in key positions, Chelsea is still in the process of developing. They’re advancing steadily, but there’s still more work ahead.
