Chelsea surged to fourth place in the Premier League with a dominant 4-0 victory over struggling Southampton on Tuesday, providing much-needed relief for manager Enzo Maresca.
The win marked a turnaround for Maresca’s side after three consecutive defeats, including a loss to Aston Villa just days earlier. Chelsea had been under pressure following those poor performances but responded in emphatic style at Stamford Bridge.
Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring in the 24th minute, with a stooping header from a corner, despite colliding with Southampton keeper Aaron Ramsdale. Pedro Neto doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 36th minute with a clinical finish before Levi Colwill added a third just before the break, heading in a perfectly placed free-kick from Neto.
Marc Cucurella capped the Blues’ biggest league win of the season in the 78th minute, finishing from a pass by Tyrique George to seal the 4-0 result. It was Chelsea’s first league victory in four matches and revived their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Maestro Maresca expressed relief after the match, stating, “We all needed that. The performance was always there, maybe except against Brighton. The players have worked hard every day, and we’ve pushed them to believe in the process.”
Despite a vocal protest by fans outside Stamford Bridge calling for the return of former owner Roman Abramovich and a more positive direction for the club, Maresca remained confident in his project. “I’m more sure than ever we are on the right track,” he said.
In contrast, Southampton’s woeful season continued. With just nine points from 27 matches and a dismal defensive record, their manager Ivan Juric labelled the campaign a “disaster.” The Saints look increasingly likely to be relegated, mirroring last season’s struggles.
