Chelsea FC had a disastrous season opener at Burnley, which was especially concerning as it came off the heels of a disappointing FA Cup loss to Arsenal. However, the Blues turned it around in a hurry beating Tottenham Hotspur, their biggest title challengers last season, and the Everton decisively in games two and three.
They kept it rolling after the international break today, defeating Leicester City 2-1 at the King Power Stadium to make it three victories in a row. They have positive momentum now, and more importantly, very important players are getting healthier and more into form.
Eden Hazard, the PFA Player of the Year in 2014-15, was in action today after missing the entire summer and early season due to a broken ankle.
“This is good news for us,” Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte said of Hazard’s return to the pitch.
“For sure he needs time to be 100 per cent, but for us his recovery is very important. We know very well the importance of this player for us. Now we must have patience to wait, to give him the possibility to improve his form. But I’m pleased for him because after a bad injury, it’s great to see him again with us.”
Hazard played just 12 minutes, but it’s still a huge step in his convalescence.
Meanwhile Tiemoue Bakayoko was in the first team today and looked to be in superior fitness than he did in his Chelsea debut against Tottenham at Wembley last.
“I think Baka is improving his physical condition,” Conte said of the midfielder acquired from Monaco this summer.
“Also he’s starting to understand and adapt himself in our style of football. For sure he has to improve with the ball, because without the ball he’s very strong.
“I think in this game he helped us a lot, above all after the Leicester goal, but he’s a young player and I think he’s a good signing for us. He has a lot of space to improve, like N’Golo. Now he needs to improve with the ball. You can see N’Golo has improved a lot if you compare with two years ago.
“We want to work and improve also Baka.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now and Minute Media. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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