LONDON – Maurizio Sarri backed Gonzalo Higuain to form a lethal partnership with Eden Hazard as the Chelsea striker’s first goals for his new club inspired a 5-0 demolition of Huddersfield on Saturday.
Blues boss Sarri had been under fire after Chelsea suffered their heaviest Premier League defeat for 23 years in a humiliating 4-0 loss at Bournemouth on Wednesday.
Amid reports the Italian is already in danger of the sack less than a year after taking charge, he was indebted to his old friend Higuain for lifting the gloom around Stamford Bridge.
Higuain, signed on loan from Juventus at Sarri’s behest after their successful spell together at Napoli, opened his account early in the first half of Chelsea’s biggest win of the season.
It was the start of an influential display from the Argentine and, with Hazard free to return to his preferred role on the flanks after a spell upfront, Chelsea looked far more vibrant.
“When Higuain arrived, he wasn’t at the top of his physical condition. Now he is improving. Apart from the goals, my feeling is he is really very suitable to play close to Hazard,” Sarri said.
“For us, it is very useful. For Higuain, he will be able to score a lot of goals, but also it will be good for Eden.”
Hazard’s controversial penalty doubled Chelsea’s lead before halftime after referee Paul Tierney ruled Cesar Azpilicueta was fouled inside the area, when the offence actually took place just outside.
That welcome piece of good fortune for Sarri was followed by further goals for Hazard, Higuain and David Luiz after the interval as Chelsea ended a run of two successive league defeats in emphatic fashion.
“We started really very well. In the first 20 to 25 minutes, I saw my football. We moved the ball very fast,” Sarri said.
“But we need to understand that we shouldn’t need to lose a game to have motivation.
“We have to improve on this, the consistency, the motivation. We need to improve the mentality.”
⚽️⚽️ Double trouble! ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/4LJpIbtvjV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 2, 2019
After winning for only the second time in their last five league matches, Chelsea climb back into fourth place three points above Arsenal, who face Manchester City on Sunday, as they battle to qualify for the Champions League.
While Chelsea’s winter of discontent won’t seem so bleak for Sarri now, the Blues remain at a crossroads.
Much sterner tests await than Huddersfield, who are rooted to the bottom of the table and look destined for relegation after an 11th defeat in their last 12 league games.
This from @DavidLuiz_4 after the game. 💙 #CHEHUD pic.twitter.com/WJ21v25Vw0
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 2, 2019
Chelsea face a season-defining period that includes the League Cup final against Manchester City and meetings with Manchester United in the FA Cup and City and Tottenham in the league.
“It will be very difficult, but also for our opponents I think,” Sarri said.
“We have to fight to stay in the top four, and then we have to try to win something.”