Hudson-Odoi makes Sarri’s job look easy
WHEN a majestic effort from Ruben Loftus-Cheek nestled past Mat Ryan to extend Chelsea’s lead to three, Maurizio Sarri turned to his bench before puffing out his cheeks.
‘Why can’t it always be this easy?’, the under- pressure manager was probably thinking.
It never is at Chelsea, Maurizio. But for once, Sarri enjoyed a comfortable night. No player revolts, no fan protests, no lastminute winners.
Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Loftus-Cheek made sure of that. Chelsea had Brighton beaten inside 60 minutes.
Easy. Make the most of it, Maurizio — it’s West Ham up next.
‘Not in all my life (is anything easy), I think,’ said Sarri.
‘But I think we deserve to win 3-0. We played a very good match, I think, with the right level of enthusiasm. The right level of intensity.’
Sarri stayed true to his word by handing Callum Hudson- Odoi his first Premier League start, while there were also rare opportunities for Loftus-Cheek, Giroud and Andreas Christensen as the manager rotated.
Hudson-Odoi showed why the clamour for him to play regularly is deafening. He oozed quality, confidence and, most importantly, an end product, putting Giroud’s opener on a plate.
The inclusion of academy graduates Loftus-Cheek, Christensen and Hudson- Odoi served to appease supporters who have turned on Sarri in recent weeks but stuck with the manager and team last night.
‘I hope Hudson- Odoi, Ruben and Christensen can be the foundation of this team for years to come,’ said Sarri. ‘At the moment, they are very important players. But the potential is higher.’
Brighton, on 33 points, remain within touching distance of safety. But until relegation is mathematically impossible, Chris Hughton will refuse to relax.
The Seagulls boss said: ‘The pressure (of staying up) is there, and it has to be there. What you need is players who are hungry enough to get enough results for us to stay clear.’
Had Solly March not hit the side-netting with his effort in the 19th minute then the night may have panned out differently.
But eventually Hudson- Odoi turned the screw, Chelsea’s brightest light on what was otherwise a relatively dim first half.
The teenager orchestrated the first. After terrorising Anthony Knockaert, on as an early substitute after March limped off, he fired a low cross which was bundled home by Giroud.
The France international wheeled away in celebration as he added substance to claims he should be first- choice striker ahead of Gonzalo Higuain.
Hudson- Odoi deserved the praise as Giroud couldn’t miss.
Home supporters chanted his name at the start of the second half, though he should have scored in the 56th minute with a point- blank header from Jorginho’s pinpoint cross.
The Blues faithful believe they’ve found their next hero. Finally, one of their own to take John Terry’s throne.
Chelsea, though, have a big job on their hands to persuade their youth product to commit his long-term future to the club.
‘Sometimes, it’s impossible to do something (to keep young players),’ added Sarri. ‘Especially, I think, here in England because I think the view when you are under 18 here is that you can sign only for three years, so it’s a big risk for the club.’
Keeping Hazard, who settled Chelsea nerves on the hour with an exquisite curling effort from just inside the area, appears a task just as precarious.
The way Hudson- Odoi and Hazard illuminated Stamford Bridge last night, the scenario of losing both over the next 18 months would be disastrous.
Loftus-Cheek completed the scoring from 25 yards out, virtually replicating Hazard’s curler.
Hopefully Sarri took time to savour the ease of last night. Because, as ever at Chelsea, trouble is never too far away.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa 6.5; Azpilicueta 6.5 (Zappacosta 73min, 6.5), Christensen 6.5, Luiz 6.5, Emerson 7; Kante 6.5, Jorginho 6.5, Loftus-Cheek 7.5 (Kovacic 82); HUDSON-ODOI 8, Giroud 7.5, Hazard 7.5 (Willian 84). Subs not used: Caballero, Rudiger, Barkley, Higuain. Scorers: Giroud 38, Hazard 60, Loftus-Cheek 63. Booked: None. Manager: Maurizio Sarri 7.5. BRIGHTON (4-3-3): Ryan 5; Bruno 5.5, Duffy 6, Dunk 5.5, Bong 5.5; Propper 6, Stephens 6, Bissouma 6; Jahanbakhsh 6 (Bernardo 75, 5), Andone 5.5 (Murray 70, 6), March 6 (Knockaert 31, 6). Subs not used: Button, Burn, Kayal, Izquierdo. Booked: None. Manager: Chris Hughton 6. Referee: Graham Scott 6. Attendance: 38,593.