CHAMPIONS?
Conte’s crazy celebration shows Chelsea have one hand on title
HIS words were guarded and respectful. There was no tub-thumping from Antonio Conte, no victory speech, just a reiteration of the message that there is still much to be done.
But his actions? They told the full story. An hour before Conte held court in Goodison Park’s press room, he stood in front of the Bullens Road stand and waved his arms manically, encouraging Chelsea’s fans to raise the volume as they sang ‘We’re gonna win the league!’ over and over.
Conte might not have wanted to go public with his true feelings but, privately, he knows his club’s travelling support are correct. This was the win, the victory which almost certainly guarantees the return of the Premier League trophy to Stamford Bridge.
A trip to Goodison Park had been highlighted as the one fixture that could blow this title race wide open; Chelsea’s recent record at this venue had been miserable andd with everton having won all eight t of their Premier League games at t home in 2017, the potential for a slip was obvious.
What followed, though, was an exhibition of why Chelsea — who have led the field since December 11 — will be champions. First they were disciplined, then they were aggressive and, finally, they demonstrated ruthless, dazzling quality to turn a war of attrition into three precious points.
An indication of what kind of day it could have been for Chelsea arrived after just 72 seconds. everton, straight from their kickoff, scurried up field and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross-shot deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta on to the post before Gary Cahill thwarted Romelu Lukaku’s follow-up.
‘It is not easy to play against a really strong team with a very good manager,’ Conte noted.
Ronald Koeman could have said the same thing. After being thrashed 5-0 at Stamford Bridge last November, he was desperate to avenge that defeat but for all their hard work, embodied by the tireless Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies, everton simply never laid a glove on Chelsea.
They actually could have been behind in the 10th minute when eden hazard managed to escape Gueye’s clutches to latch on to Diego Costa’s pass, but after rounding Maarten Stekelenburg he fired into the side-netting. Conte cried out in despair, unable to believe the Belgian had missed.
It was that kind of first half. Nip and tuck, tense. There were flickers of opportunities — Romelu Lukaku dragging a shot wide, Nemanja Matic shooting straight at Stekelenburg — but not a clearcut chance and it was obvious the first goal would be decisive.
Chelsea’s desire to get it was huge and they emerged for the second period bursting with intent. The first evidence of that arrived in the 52nd minute when hazard and Matic worked a wonderful corner and Victor Moses fizzed a drive inches wide of the far post. Again Conte’s despair was tangible. he could not have been more involved in this game had he been wearing a black kit rather than a black suit, kicking every ball and living every second. he just needed to see the breakthrough and, soon enough, it arrived in the most spectacular manner.
In the 66th minute, Pedro twisted away from Phil Jagielka and unleashed a drive that screamed into the top corner of Stekelenburg’s net and, suddenly, all the emotion came pouring out of Conte. This was the knowledge that the job was nearly done.
You could see it in the way he engulfed his assistants, then turned to pump his fists and roar towards David Luiz with delight. his players knew it as they swamped the outstanding Pedro and the travelling support in the Bullens Road knew it too.
With the handbrake off, Chelsea went through the gears and everton had no response. Pedro’s blow had left them seeing stars and unable to offer any kind of defence. It meant Conte was able to enjoy the final 24 minutes and two more goals followed.
The second came from Cahill, who bundled in from two yards out after Stekelenburg failed to deal with hazard’s free-kick. The third was the product of a devastating counter-attack that involved Costa, Cesc Fabregas and ended with Willian, who had not long been on, finishing with aplomb.
‘Maybe, yes,’ said Koeman, when asked if Goodison Park had seen the champions. ‘Maybe in the last 30 minutes.’
Down on the touchline, Conte had been hollering with delight, arms pumping, hugging anyone within his vicinity.
Conte simply wants to ‘keep the passion, keep the enthusiasm’ going as they head into the final four matches with a four-point lead. The glint in his eye, however, was unmistakable. Chelsea are nearly there. And Conte knows it.