Match Summary
Chelsea marched to the top of the table after a very convincing come-from-behind victory against newly-promoted Burnley, thanks to the new summer signings.
The Blues, who do tend to do things the hard way, were yet again in the act of making their fans suffer before rejoicing as it required the Blues to go behind before they really got going. Arfield scored after 14 minutes for Burnley after he was given too much time and space in the box, to give the hosts a shock lead and enormous welcome into the Premier League.
But, however it is done, thankfully Chelsea did respond. Better was the fact that the 4,000 travelling Chelsea fans only saw their side behind for three minutes, and even better was the fact that Diego Costa scored on his debut, especially after it took Torres an infamous 14 games to get going.
Ivanovic’s low right-wing cross was diverted goalwards by a Burnley defender, but the ball cannoned off the post and Costa was in the perfect, penalty-spot position to rifle home.
A second followed four minutes later as Chelsea started to show their class, after early apprehension. Wonderful running by Hazard saw the ball reach Fabregas, who read Schurrle’s run exceptionally well and the German, running at full pace in on goal, took the ball in his stride and side-footed home. It was a glorious team goal — there were 25 passes in the lead-up to it — and it was Fabregas who, like with the first, assisted as the ex-Arsenal man settled right back into life in England.
One became two in an instant, and two became three later on in the first half. A routine corner kick was poorly defended by Dyche’s men and Ivanovic got there first to divert it home.
The second-half was a relative non-event, as Jose Mourinho continues with his philosophy to shut-up shop when in a comfortable position, rather than chase the larger score-lines. The job was already done, granted, and we even saw the return on an old boy, Didier Drogba. But this was a day about the new boys, as the help Chelsea round up Matchday 1 by starting at the summit.
Man of the Match
CESC FABREGAS: An excellent Chelsea debut. It is easy to see why Mourinho has complimented the ex-Arsenal man’s footballing brain, because he set the ball rolling with assists for Chelsea’s two goals, the second being a divine, intuitive pass. He has settled right back into English football, and more performances like this will really warm to the Chelsea fans, his former haters. 8/10
Manager Reaction
Jose Mourinho was delighted with the start: “When you come to a place like here and you are a goal down against a difficult team and in a difficult place then players can get down heartened and lose faith. Burnley are a direct and physical side but overall we had good control and we showed moments of class.”
Sean Dyche understood the massive task at hand: “Chelsea are a fine side, make no mistake with the strength, ability and awareness they have. Their movement is fantastic as well. Don’t forget there is a massive amount of money in that team, so there needs to be a reality about the result.”