Maurizio Sarri’s new Chelsea outfit had the best possible start to the season with a resounding 3-0 win over David Wagner’s Huddersfield. The team from West London showed their class with a dominating performance thanks to goals from Ngolo Kante, debutant Jorginho, and a familiar face in Pedro.
Both sets of fans were in bright and cheery moods as the first Saturday of the new season began, and both teams came into the match with a few new faces; notably Jorginho for Chelsea and Terence Kongolo for Huddersfield, the clubs record signing from Monaco.
The game began brightly with the away side dominating possession, 65% of it after 30 minutes was in the Blues favour, but the end result was yet to materialise itself. However, come the 34th minute a miss-hit cross from Willian fell to Kante who, with a miss-hit shot, put it past Ben Hamer into the Huddersfield net to give Chelsea the lead.
There was almost an immediate response from Huddersfield after Steve Mounie headed onto the post after a cross from Aaron Mooy, but things were just not falling Town’s way. Things got even worse a few minutes later, when a questionable penalty was given Chelsea’s way after Chris Schindler fouled Marcos Alonso in the penalty area. Whilst the decisions itself may have been questionable, there was nothing questionable about the finish with new signing Jorginho very coolly slotting his penalty away to claim a goal on his Premier League debut.
This was how it stayed until half time and the whistle came with David Wagner getting the chance to talk to his Terriers and try to find a way back into the game.
However, after the re-start, Chelsea did as they have tended to do before and nullify any threat from the opposition.
The game was controlled in an efficient manner, allowing Loftus Cheek & Eden Hazard to enter the fray. The latter made an immediate impact as he grabbed the ball and ran at the Huddersfield defence on the counter attack, slipping it to Pedro who calmly dinked it over Ben Hamer to make it 3-0 and ensure the points were travelling back to London with Chelsea.
The Blues had a rocky season last time out and a solid performance here will not only have reassured the fans, but also settled Sarri’s nerves, if indeed he had any, and reminded the other teams in the top six that Chelsea are here and they mean business. As for Huddersfield, they were simply outclassed by the better team and Wagner’s men’s season will not be judged on games here against Chelsea. However it may only get worse in the immediate future with Guardiola’s men next up for the Terriers.
