High drama
Unusual show from Chelsea in hard-fought win after Watford fan suffers cardiac arrest
THOMAS TUCHEL admitted his Chelsea side put in an “unusual performance” after Hakim Ziyech’s winner kept them top of the Premier League following a match that was temporarily halted after a medical emergency in the stands.
Chelsea won a hard-fought game 2-1 after a Watford fan suffered a cardiac arrest 12 minutes into the match.
Medical staff from both teams raced across the pitch to assist the supporter, who was stabilised and then carried out on a stretcher to be taken to hospital.
When the match resumed it was Chelsea who took the lead, with Mason Mount stroking the ball past Daniel Bachmann after 30 minutes.
However, the visitors’ advantage did not last long and Emmanuel Dennis fired an equaliser into the bottom corner just before the break, only for substitute Ziyech to slot the ball past Bachmann to secure maximum points deep into the second half.
“(It was a) very sloppy and it was a very unusual performance for us,” Tuchel said after the game. “I had the feeling we were not ready.
“I have to get the team ready and obviously I didn’t prepare them for what was coming because for the first time we were completely underperforming as a team.
“We did not cope well with the first balls, we did not cope well with the pressure and we did not cope well with the second balls.”
“It was a very unusual performance for us so I think today that I will not like to focus long on this match because we play on Saturday again and there are some reasons that did not make it easy for us,” he added.
“Watford played with a lot of enthusiasm and we struggled in the basics. I don’t know why but it was like this.
“We are in this together and we got a lucky win today.”
The players were off the pitch for around 25 minutes before returning to the field for a five-minute warm-up and the match resumed with the clock set at 12 minutes.
When asked about the incident, Tuchel said: “All the best from us, all thoughts from Chelsea and from the dressing room. Hopefully everything is going well – that is the most important thing.”
Goalscorer Mount revealed Tuchel had “firm words” with the players when play was suspended due to the medical emergency.
“He said firm words to us and it got us going,” Mount told Amazon Prime after the game. “As leaders in the group, we know it wasn’t good enough, didn’t keep the ball, no football in their half.”
BBC’s Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy hailed Mount and said the England star “never disappoints”.
“Mount never does (disappoint). He’s got that quality and that desire to keep getting into dangerous areas.
“They’ve got lots of quality players but it was great to see him back. You know what you get from him.
“You get a great touch, great technique and that willingness to get into areas. He’s always a threat.
“Chelsea were poor first half but they only needed one or two chances. Mount very rarely makes the wrong decision.
“He was pivotal in the winner for Ziyech too. He’s actually been the top scorer since Tuchel came in and he’ll be delighted to have him back.”
Watford manager Claudio Ranieri believes his side deserved at least a point after pushing the League leaders all the way through the match.
“What can I say? It’s unbelievable what happened, but that’s football,” said the Watford boss.
“I’m very satisfied and very proud of my players and we must continue this way.
“I think we deserved at least a point, we played very, very well. I’m very proud of my players, that’s it.” – The Independent/Express Newspapers/Agencies