The Italian, an 80th-minute replacement for the bloodied Lee Cattermole, lashed home a dramatic last-minute equaliser from an improbable angle to ensure Wickham’s second-half double claimed only a point for the visitors.
Advertisement
“It was frightful by the end”, added Gary Cahill. “All you can ask is for them to give everything and they did that. We have two league games coming up before PSG”, Hiidink said. Captain John Terry was the last academy graduate to become a first-team regular but, under Dutchman Hiddink, a trio of youth-team players has broken into the squad. “We have to set new targets now with the ambition of Chelsea in the direction of Europe”, Hiddink told the local media after the match. If everyone is, with no big injuries, then we would like to go as high as possible towards the European spots. We were down, nearly in the relegation zone.
The Canaries conceded after 39 seconds to Kenedy’s fastest goal of the Premier League season so far and then Costa’s strike before half-time should have been ruled out for offside. In the first half we had a splendid start through Kenedy, I didn’t see it on the reply, but I think a handsome goal.
“Everyone knows how we started in December”. Once more I underline we consider also the chances for the young guys. It is very hard to catch them, but we will try our best to win every game. His upturn in form comes at a vital time for Chelsea. I’m especially happy with the progress of Bertrand Traore. “If that’s the case, I can understand their feelings”.
It also cannot be overlooked that Chelsea are unbeaten in five EPL road games having won three of their last four such fixtures; a draw would seem to be the best that the hosts can hope for at 31/10.
Naismith scored a hat-trick in Everton’s 3-1 win over Chelsea at Goodison Park in September after coming on as an early substitute.
Advertisement
But Pato hasn’t been able to play at all because of his apparent poor fitness levels, with the Brazilian striker subjected to a gruelling pre-season training programme to get him up to speed.
