Chelsea captain Reece James revelled in proving the Blues’ Champions League doubters unsuitable after their big 1-0 win over Manchester United on Friday.
James performed an important function in the one aim of the sport, neatly turning earlier than offering the cross for Marc Cucurella to move residence the winner within the 71st minute.
The consequence proved an important one after Aston Villa’s win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier within the day, with Chelsea transferring as much as fourth, stage on factors with Unai Emery’s staff.
Chelsea are one in all three groups on 66 factors, although Newcastle United have a recreation in hand in opposition to Arsenal on Sunday, with the Blues going through Nottingham Forest on the ultimate day.
James is the one participant remaining within the Chelsea squad that was a part of their Champions League success in 2020-21, and believes the membership belongs amongst Europe’s elite.
“I believe that’s the place the membership belongs, within the Champions League. Competing in the perfect competitions,” James stated.
“Folks like to put in writing us off and name us inexperienced. We performed in opposition to a really skilled United staff at present.
“We had been there and we received the sport. We obtained what we would have liked to do.”
Ought to Chelsea seal a top-five end this season, it will likely be all the way down to their spectacular kind at Stamford Bridge for the reason that flip of the 12 months.
The Blues stay unbeaten within the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in 2025, successful eight and drawing two of 10 video games.
They’ve received extra factors on residence soil (26) than some other aspect this calendar 12 months, and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca believed his staff had been deserving of their newest victory.
“It was fairly assured as a result of I understand how troublesome it’s to play in opposition to United,” Maresca informed Sky Sports activities.
“We anticipated a really robust recreation. They performed very nicely. I used to be utterly assured. General, it was a recreation the place we might have a very good second and rating a aim.
“I used to look at 5, six, seven video games after we performed in opposition to a staff. I’ve by no means watched them [Man Utd] so aggressive – they had been man to man, and it was very troublesome.
“Off the ball I believe we performed a improbable recreation. The staff was very aggressive till the tip. We tried to press larger, and I believe we deserved to win the sport.
“It’s good to work on some options, and then you definately rating.”
And Chelsea’s newest residence success was clinched by Cucurella, who netted his fifth Premier League aim of the season.
Certainly, all six of Cucurella’s Premier League targets have been on residence soil (one for Brighton, 5 for Chelsea).
In Premier League historical past, solely Clive Wilson (9), Jeff Kenna and Ronny Johnsen (each eight) have scored extra targets with 100% of them coming at residence.
However away from private glory, Cucurella was readily available to emphasize the necessity for Champions League soccer, whereas additionally believing one thing particular was constructing at Chelsea.
“It is vitally necessary [to get Champions League]. Step-by-step we’re creating one thing particular and now there are solely two video games left to realize one thing particular,” he added.
“Crucial factor is it is determined by us, so we now have to play the sport on Sunday, after which we’re enthusiastic about the [Conference League] last.
“At present is a second to get pleasure from as a result of we work all season for these moments, so now we now have ambitions to realize these items.”