Conor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez all strike for Chelsea as Villa respond with a consolation from Moussa Diaby
Chelsea's English defender Ben Chilwell and Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez celebrate after the English FA Cup fourth round victory over Aston Villa. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty ImagesPochettino reacted to the farrago over Thiago Silva’s wife hinting on X that the manager should go by leaving out his classiest, if oldest, defender and then reintroducing him for the final minutes of a valedictory evening.
Villa spent the first half of this season bamboozling opponents with their superb movement going forwards, Ollie Watkins usually partnered by a wide player given licence to roam the channels in front of a midfield box four. But maybe opponents have worked them out. Certainly Pochettino found a way.
In anticipation of their Carabao Cup final against Liverpool later this month, Chelsea fans were already singing “We’re all going to Wembley” as Kamara lost possession easily in midfield. Jackson probed menacingly down left wing; when his cross-shot was deflected, Madueke teed the ball back for Gallagher to sidefoot into the top corner from 12 yards. It was his first goal since last May, and a crucial one for Pochettino.
Villa had lost their first Premier League game at home in 18 matches, a run stretching back to last February, when getting outgunned by Newcastle eight nights earlier and their sights appeared to be narrowing back on those top-four ambitions when they conceded a third goal nine minutes into the second half.