Diego Costa’s weight may have stabilised following his summer of steak suppers in Brazil, but he is hungry for goals. It is just as well the Spaniard’s appetite has returned after a lean start to the season, as Chelsea would have struggled to beat opponents who have not won since the opening day of the season without his goals either side of half-time.
Chelsea were comfortable winners in the end but are still lacking the control which brought them the Barclays Premier League title last season and it is far too early to conclude that they have turned the corner.
Beyond Costa’s goals the most notable aspect of a match which began brightly before fading away to nothingness was José Mourinho’s bizarre treatment of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who impressed in an unfamiliar No 10 role on his first league start of the season before being substituted at half-time. Mourinho’s method of developing the confidence of young players is eccentric at best.
Loftus-Cheek had been one of Chelsea’s better players in the first half but it was the club’s senior stalwarts who ultimately delivered the points. Willian delivered the cross from which Costa gave his side the lead in the 34th minute following a dreadful clearance from Brad Guzan, while the pass of the match from Cesc Fàbregas released him nine minutes into the second half.
For all the relief engendered by those goals – not least because Roman Abramovich was watching from the stands – many of Chelsea’s familiar problems were still evident, and they must rank as the most open side Mourinho has coached in his entire career. Jack Grealish was able to exploit the considerable space in front of Chelsea’s back four during the first half before the introduction of Nemenja Matic for Loftus-Cheek gave him less room in which to operate, while both full backs looked vulnerable to counter attacks, particularly Baba Rahman on his debut.
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Mourinho had continued with his version of the short, sharp, shock treatment, leaving out Matic, Oscar and Eden Hazard in favour of Ramires, Loftus-Cheek and Pedro, although it initially felt as if the Chelsea manager has been applying this supposed remedy so regularly that it has ceased to have any effect. Chelsea began energetically enough, but lacked any semblance of control, leading to an open game between two sides clearly suffering a crisis of confidence.
Loftus-Cheek was Chelsea’s brightest spark early on, with the 19-year-old adjusting to his new position as if he had been playing there all his life. Mourinho deployed him there because of doubts over his defensive nous and decision-making, but Loftus-Cheek responded positively using his powerful physique to cause Idrissa Gueye, his marker, countless problems.
In the seventh minute the England Under-21 player had a shot deflected wide and 11 minutes later he turned provider, making a surging run from deep before releasing Costa, who was ruled offside.
Unfortunately for Chelsea, Rahman’s Premier League debut started less auspiciously, with the Ghanaian left back’s performance demonstrating precisely why Mourinho has been reluctant to play him, until Branislav Ivanovic’s injury forced his hand. The Portuguese has publicly expressed concerns about Rahman’s physical strength and these proved well founded, with Alan Hutton barging him off the ball to create a shooting opportunity before the former Wolfsburg defender gave Grealish sufficient space to cut inside, only to shoot straight at Asmir Begovic.
Villa’s best chance of the first half came down the opposite flank though, with Grealish’s flick releasing Jordan Ayew, who was given too much space in which to produce a cross, which Rudy Gestede stabbed over the bar from close range.
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Chelsea carried the greater threat throughout despite that let-off but did not look like scoring until Guzan gifted them a golden opportunity in the 34th minute. The goalkeeper’s scuffed clearance put Joleon Lescott under pressure which caused him to wilt, miscontrolling the ball to allow Willian a clear run on goal, with the Brazilian eventually crossing for Costa to tap in.
Costa had a half-hearted penalty appeal rejected just before half-time after clashing with Lescott but with Villa so shaky defensively it mattered not.
Fàbregas exposed the weakness at the heart of the visitors’ back four nine minutes into the second half with a lofted ball from the halfway line, which Costa controlled on the chest on the edge of the six-yard box. The 27-year-old was still surrounded by three defenders however, but they all gave him far too much space and his eventual shot was deflected in by Hutton.
Villa looked a beaten side at that point and for the first time in the Premier League this season Chelsea were able to play out time untroubled, which used to be a regular feature of matches at Stamford Bridge. Given the state of the team, such carefree afternoons are unlikely to return on a permanent basis.