Chelsea delivered a stunning 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, advancing in the FA Cup and alleviating pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Fernandez’s remarkable free-kick, along with first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Nicolas Jackson, secured the win.
Despite Moussa Diaby’s injury-time goal for Villa, Chelsea remained in control throughout the match. With this victory, Chelsea now prepares to host Leeds in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
After recent disappointing performances, including losses to Wolves and Liverpool, Chelsea’s resurgence brought back memories of their dominant displays under former owner Roman Abramovich.
With upcoming fixtures in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, Chelsea has the opportunity to salvage success this season, despite their struggles in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Villa faced questions about their consistency following a second consecutive home defeat. Despite manager Unai Emery’s emphasis on crucial fixtures, Villa failed to mount a comeback against Chelsea after an initial bright start.
Chelsea took control early in the match, with Gallagher opening the scoring before Jackson doubled the lead with a precise header. Fernandez’s stunning free-kick extended Chelsea’s advantage further.
Although Villa attempted to rally, they were unable to mount a significant comeback, with Diaby’s late goal serving as mere consolation. Chelsea’s dominance on the field reflected a marked improvement from their recent performances, signaling renewed hope for the remainder of the season.