Following Chelsea's 2-1 victory against Dean Smith's Aston Villa on 6/22, the Blues faced Pep Guardiola's Manchester City this Friday. The match-up this week was more than a league game; it was crucial in the race for the Top 4 spots and in determining the 2019/20 Premier League Champions. Chelsea's win would automatically present Liverpool FC with the prestigious trophy––an honor that took Liverpool around 30 years to regain. More importantly, for Chelsea fans, the victory would bring the team one step closer to securing a Top 4 finish: a necessity to qualify for the UEFA Champions League tournament.
Though the game broadcasted at 4 AM in South Korea, it was a game that I couldn't miss as a Chelsea supporter. Similar to the situation in 2015/16, when our win against Tottenham Hotspurs guaranteed the EPL title for Leicester City, the exceptional performance from Chelsea put a big smile on Jürgen Klopp. Regardless, this is by no means downgrading Liverpool's consistency throughout this season and their incredible record. Kudos to the three forwards, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané. Watching these three play together reminded me of Barcelona's attacking trio in the past (Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez). Liverpool certainly deserved the valuable piece of silverware, and I'm looking forward to what they will achieve in the upcoming years.
Back to Chelsea. If I had to highlight one player from our victory against Manchester City, it would have to be Christian Pulisic. 'Captain America' proved once again that he could make intelligent decisions by using his outstanding speed to outrun opponents and bringing the overall tempo up. Pulisic is well aware of his strengths, and he continuously uses them to benefit the team, which is fantastic to see! In the first half, as soon as the opponents made a mistake, Pulisic was there to take advantage and turn the opportunity into an essential goal for us. The American striker created countless chances for both himself and the team, making an immense difference in the second half after Kevin De Bruyne's beautiful equalizer (have to give that to him). Though this may sound like a stretch, I genuinely believe that if Pulisic continues to work hard and develops the way he plays at Chelsea, he could be an excellent replacement for Eden Hazard. With Timor Werner and Hakim Ziyech joining us next season, I can't wait to see the players working together, and I'm confident that Chelsea has a chance at winning the title next year. Above anything, as Frank Lampard stated in his post-game interview, I think the most important takeaway for the team is to trust themselves and build a confident mindset for the remaining games and in future competitions.
Now, we are five points clear of Manchester United and one point away from Leicester City. Some say Chelsea (54 pts) can catch up to Manchester City (63 pts) by the end of this season. While I think it's possible, I believe it is more reasonable to take little steps from now on and focus on our next game rather than the future to make sure we obtain the three points without any mistakes. As former Chelsea head coach and current Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho once said, "Work hard to get good, then work harder to get better."
Click here for a quick highlight of the game!
Photo Sources:
1st Photo (Left):
Alex Butler (UPI): "U.S. men's soccer star Christian Pulisic helps Chelsea beat Manchester City"
2nd Photo (Right):
Courtesy of Liverpool FC Official Instagram Account (@liverpoolfc)
Comments