CONTE IS LEFT IN BLUE MOOD
Bournemouth help themselves at the Bridge
CHELSEA paraded their statuesque striker after signing Olivier Giroud, but the statuesque big men at the back were the problem for Antonio Conte as his champions froze against Bournemouth.
Chelsea lacked threat in attack, neatly illustrating the manager’s desire for more options up front, and were uncharacteristically awful in defence after Andreas Christensen was forced off injured.
Eddie Howe’s team took advantage with three goals in a blistering 16-minute spell at the start of the second-half.
Callum Wilson dashed clear and fired in the first, Junior Stanislas scored the second in similar fashion and former Chelsea defender Nathan Ake pounced to make it three.
For Giroud it must have felt a lot like it did before his £18million move across London, sitting in the stands, watching his team under-achieve.
Just 24 hours earlier, he was at Swansea as Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal leaked three to a lowly team and it is little more than a fortnight since Bournemouth embarrassed the Gunners.
Here, Howe’s side were at it again, disturbing a prestigious reputation and damaging top-four ambitions. Chelsea have now slipped behind Liverpool and closer to Tottenham.
Any hopes of defending the title may be long gone, but they may have a fight on their hands to protect their Champions League status.
‘We must be worried,’ said Conte. ‘It won’t be easy and we must be prepared to fight. I am ready and I think the players are starting to understand that this season we have to struggle for a position in the Champions League.
‘Their commitment and their behaviour is great and if they hadn’t done that, our place in the table would be worse. If we want only to dream, I can tell you now we can fight to win the title this season. But it is important to look at the reality and to know that, if we are able to reach a place in the Champions League, it will be a great success for us.’
Chelsea supporters launched an ironic chorus of ‘Barcelona, we’re coming for you,’ in the closing minutes, but in truth their team struggled. Ross Barkley, starting his first game since May, again looked short of match sharpness before he was replaced soon after half-time. Eden Hazard, deployed in a central role in the absence of any options, flickered but was largely subdued. Christensen suffered what seemed to be a hamstring injury, midway through the first half, which will be a serious concern for Conte. David Luiz, having lost his place to the young Dane, is out with an ankle injury and not close to a return. Conte sent on Antonio Rudiger as Gary Cahill moved into the central position and Chelsea hit their best rhythm. Cahill headed over at the near post from a corner, Marcos Alonso headed wide and Hazard mistimed a good chance in the air. Bournemouth’s back three stayed firm though and came out for the second half full of purpose. Tiemoue Bakayoko was caught dwelling on the ball deep in midfield by the ever-alert Wilson, who passed to Jordon Ibe before racing towards goal through Chelsea’s back line. Ibe slid a pass in as Wilson pulled clear of Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta to tuck a neat and confident finish past Thibaut Courtois. Stanislas grabbed the second and, like the first, his pace was key as he latched on to a pass through the Chelsea defence and sped clear of Cahill and beat Courtois.
Less than three minutes later, Ake made it 3-0, diverting a low drive from Stanislas on target following a corner.
Alonso went close, referee Lee Probert rejected a strong penalty appeal for handball against Ake and 17-year-old sub Callum Hudson-Odoi impressed. But Chelsea never looked like finding a way back into the game.
‘It is a huge moment for us,’ said Howe, now unbeaten in six Premier League games.
‘It’s the best performance we’ve had at this level. There was no luck involved. We looked a strong team. We defended well and we attacked with purpose.’