Chelsea took a huge step towards a top four finish, and avenged their FA Cup final defeat last weekend, with a 2-1 win over Leicester at Stamford Bridge last night.
A penalty from Jorginho and an Antonio Rudiger strike earned the Blues a precious three points, the visitors replying through Kelechi Iheanacho but unable to find an equaliser.
The victory saw Chelsea leapfrog Leicester into third place with just one game remaining. It was a pleasing night for Thomas Tuchel - but the Blues' German manager will know he has to solve his side's woes at the top end of the pitch quicksmart.
Timo Werner was subbed in injury time at the end of the game after drawing yet another blank, and the former Leipzig striker has scored just six Premier League goals so far this season - level with academy graduates Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham.
In fact, with his penalty last night, Jorginho is now Chelsea's top scorer so far this season - the Italy international notching seven top flight goals (all penalties!) during the current campaign. Luckily for the Blues, their rearguard has been prolific this season: Chelsea scoring more Premier League goals (14) via defenders than any team.
After a huge outlay on Werner and Kai Havertz last summer, Tuchel has to decide whether the two German internationals can spark into life at the Bridge, and he also faces big decisions with regard to Olivier Giroud and England international Abraham.
📈 Most #PremierLeague goals via DEFENDERS (20/21):
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 19, 2021
14⚽: 💥CHELSEA*💥
11⚽: Man City
10⚽: West Ham
9⚽: Brighton, Leicester
* Zouma x5; Alonso, Chilwell, Silva x2; Azpilicueta, James, Rudiger x1. #CFC @AbsoluteChelsea pic.twitter.com/hoPEyXUMG6
2-1 | ||
Bertrand Traoré 43' Anwar El-Ghazi 52' (pen.) | Ben Chilwell 70' |