Blues power on tactical prowess
4 Dec 2013 4:10 AM IST
The win saw Jose Mourinho’s second-placed side move to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal. But it took a stirring second half comeback to clinch three points after Jay Rodriguez had given Mauricio Pochettino’s visiting side a stunningly quick lead.
Gary Cahill headed Chelsea level ten minutes after the restart before Terry celebrated his landmark appearance with the Blues’ second goal seven minutes later. And Demba Ba rounded off the win in the 90th minute with a volleyed finish from Ramires’s cross.
Having lost at Arsenal last time out, a second away defeat meant Southampton dropped to seventh place. Rodriguez’s goal came as a blow to a Chelsea side attempting to shake off the effects of a midweek Champions League defeat at Basel.
A goal from the prolific Alvaro Negredo and two second-half efforts from Samir Nasri ensured Manchester City maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 3-0 win over Swansea at Eastlands on Sunday.
The game was far from a formality, however, with Swansea enjoying the better of first half possession and chances after Negredo claimed his eighth goal in his last seven games for City, before Nasri’s double put the result beyond doubt.
When Negredo struck after just eight minutes, a Swansea side depleted by injuries to key players Michu and Wilfried Bony must have feared that they were about to be on the receiving end of another mauling at the Etihad from a City side that had scored seven, five, six and four goals, respectively, in their last four home games.
‘Chelsea players starting to get my philosophy’
LONDON: It has not been the smoothest of returns to English football for Jose Mourinho but he saw signs in Chelsea’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton on Sunday that his players are understanding his football philosophy.
‘It’s the sign of a team that is going step by step, that understands my ideas and understands my mentality,’ Mourinho told reporters. ‘Some of them, the ones that are not completely in my mentality and my philosophy, are adapting progressively,’ he said.
‘They must feel the responsibility of playing for Chelsea...that Chelsea cannot be in December, like it happened in a few seasons, completely out of the title race.’ Mourinho said his decision to bring on Demba Ba as a second striker alongside Fernando Torres for the second half proved a decisive factor.
‘We changed to 4-4-2 and I think we gave Southampton a different game.’
Moyes in dark over Rooney contract talks
LONDON: Manchester United manager David Moyes says that he knows of no immediate plans to reward Wayne Rooney’s fine form with the offer of a new contract. Rooney scored a brace as United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday -- his ninth and 10th goals in all competitions this season. Asked when the club might look to open discussions with Rooney over his contract situation, Moyes replied: ‘I don’t really know. ‘I think we’re fine, we’re just moving on from the summer. It’ll get done in good course and the appropriate people will talk when the time’s right.’ Moyes was not able to offer an update on Van Persie’s condition after the game at Spurs, meaning that Rooney could be asked to lead the line alone against Everton on Wednesday.
Gary Cahill headed Chelsea level ten minutes after the restart before Terry celebrated his landmark appearance with the Blues’ second goal seven minutes later. And Demba Ba rounded off the win in the 90th minute with a volleyed finish from Ramires’s cross.
Having lost at Arsenal last time out, a second away defeat meant Southampton dropped to seventh place. Rodriguez’s goal came as a blow to a Chelsea side attempting to shake off the effects of a midweek Champions League defeat at Basel.
A goal from the prolific Alvaro Negredo and two second-half efforts from Samir Nasri ensured Manchester City maintained the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal with a 3-0 win over Swansea at Eastlands on Sunday.
The game was far from a formality, however, with Swansea enjoying the better of first half possession and chances after Negredo claimed his eighth goal in his last seven games for City, before Nasri’s double put the result beyond doubt.
When Negredo struck after just eight minutes, a Swansea side depleted by injuries to key players Michu and Wilfried Bony must have feared that they were about to be on the receiving end of another mauling at the Etihad from a City side that had scored seven, five, six and four goals, respectively, in their last four home games.
‘Chelsea players starting to get my philosophy’
LONDON: It has not been the smoothest of returns to English football for Jose Mourinho but he saw signs in Chelsea’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton on Sunday that his players are understanding his football philosophy.
‘It’s the sign of a team that is going step by step, that understands my ideas and understands my mentality,’ Mourinho told reporters. ‘Some of them, the ones that are not completely in my mentality and my philosophy, are adapting progressively,’ he said.
‘They must feel the responsibility of playing for Chelsea...that Chelsea cannot be in December, like it happened in a few seasons, completely out of the title race.’ Mourinho said his decision to bring on Demba Ba as a second striker alongside Fernando Torres for the second half proved a decisive factor.
‘We changed to 4-4-2 and I think we gave Southampton a different game.’
Moyes in dark over Rooney contract talks
LONDON: Manchester United manager David Moyes says that he knows of no immediate plans to reward Wayne Rooney’s fine form with the offer of a new contract. Rooney scored a brace as United twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday -- his ninth and 10th goals in all competitions this season. Asked when the club might look to open discussions with Rooney over his contract situation, Moyes replied: ‘I don’t really know. ‘I think we’re fine, we’re just moving on from the summer. It’ll get done in good course and the appropriate people will talk when the time’s right.’ Moyes was not able to offer an update on Van Persie’s condition after the game at Spurs, meaning that Rooney could be asked to lead the line alone against Everton on Wednesday.
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