After picking up the Man of the Match trophy for his 45-minute performance, Romelu Lukaku spoke to Sky Sports.
The west London club came from behind to beat Aston Villa after Jorginho’s first-half penalty chalked off Reece James own goal.
Lukaku’s introduction in the second half turned the game on its head in favour of the visitors.
The Belgium international spoke about his individual effort today : “I think I needed a performance like this today. It’s been difficult getting ends of the game.
“Every footballer wants to be on the pitch.
“The manager has his reasons but I kept working hard and today was good first to win and for myself personally I’m happy with my performance and now I have to push on”
Lukaku was asked if Chelsea needed that result after dropping down to nine points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Lukaku said: “We are the hunters now.
“The last results were not the best and now we have to chase. We have to treat every game like a final.
“Today we won and now we have to push on. We had to win the game.
“Credit to Steven Gerrard and his staff. It was not easy for us.
One goal apiece at half-time despite there being very few clear chances in the game at Villa Park as Aston Villa led through Reece James’ own goal but soon found themselves level again after Jorginho converted from the spot.
The home side have defended narrowly and compactly, forcing Chelsea to send their full-backs high up the pitch in an attempt to find a way past them.
Villa have then countered well with high energy and direct play – Watkins the key man – as they run at the Chelsea back three.
It was a Matt Targett cross that deflected off Reece James’ head and hit the back of the net to put Villa one up.
Chelsea found their way back into the game however, when Hudson-Odoi got behind the Villa defence and was hacked down by Matty Cash.
Jorginho calmly put home the penalty and the two sides go in level pegging at the half.
Chelsea and Aston Villa have released their line-ups for one of the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixtures despite Covid-19 problems.
Fan favourite and recently-named Scottish footballer of the year, John McGinn, is out today.
One can presume it is part of the Covid-19 protocols but we will try and confirm that as soon as possible.
The Villans will likely start in a 4-3-3 formation.
The Blues go into tonight with a stronger side than recent weeks as we see the return of Hudson-Odoi to the line up and Lukaku on the bench.
Chelsea will line up in a 3-4-3 formation with the ball, with wing backs joining the midfield.
Mendy stays in goal for the European champions, whilst there is a back three in front of him, consisting of young Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva and Rudiger.
Kante and Jorginho sit in the defensive midfield positions.
Reece James and Marcos Alonso are the wing-backs, looking to cause as much trouble for Villa as they have caused opposition teams this season.
Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi will line up either side of Pulisic in an attacking three.
The Nigerian Football Federation has spoken to Jose Mourinho about the prospect of becoming the new manager of the national team, their chief has revealed.
The Super Eagles are managerless after sacking Gernot Rohr earlier this month, with the African Cup of Nations just weeks away.
Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigerian FA, wants to appoint a manager who can instil discipline into the squad as Nigeria look to win AFCON for the first time since 2013.
And Pinnick revealed they have targeted Roma boss Mourinho ahead of the tournament.
He told Nigerian outlet the Daily Trust: “The emphasis on the new coach is discipline.
“We will also look at how hungry he is to win trophies because if they are hungry it supersedes so many things and if he wants to win he will instil discipline.
“Of course Mourinho – I am not going to tell you we didn’t talk to Mourinho because we did and the (sports) minister also talked to Mourinho and there is nothing wrong with it.
“If the coach will give us the Nations Cup, he will be drafted in immediately.
AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez has been identified by Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel as a player the European champions could target in January, according to El Nacional.
Chelsea’s first-choice left-back Ben Chilwell has missed the last six games since suffering a knee injury, but Tuchel said earlier this week that he is optimistic the England international will not be out for two long.
However, El Nacional reports that France international Hernandez is a player that Chelsea could target if Chilwell’s recovery does not progress as quickly as it is hoped.
A footballer who played for English clubs was stabbed to death after a party in Bermuda.
According to The Sun, Osagi Bascome, 23, was stabbed multiple times during a fight outside a restaurant on St David’s Island.
Bascome signed for Bristol City in 2017 where he played for the under-23 squad.
He finished his English football career at National League North side Darlington.
Bascome was capped 18 times for Bermuda.
Police said the stabbing was not believed to be gang related.
Detective Chief Inspector Peter Stableford said last night: “We know people saw what happened and we urge them to do the right thing by Osagi and tell us.”
Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw in an action-packed game at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp’s side conceded ground in the race for the Premier League title.
Spurs striker Harry Kane opened the scoring with his second league goal of the season, but Liverpool hit back through forward Diogo Jota and defender Andy Robertson. Spurs forward Son Heung-Min netted to level the scores again before Robertson saw red for kicking through the back of opposing defender Emerson Royal.
Spurs started brightly, and Kane took full advantage, slotting home a threaded through ball from midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.
Antonio Conte’s side remained dominant as Son had two chances to extend Spurs’ lead – first, with a lunging shot following a layoff from Kane; then, baring down one-on-one with goalkeeper Alisson, but he squandered both.
Midfielder Dele Alli missed another shortly after, unable to find the bottom right-hand corner after picking the ball up unmarked at the penalty spot.
Kane seemed to be in trouble of being sent off shortly after when he caught the boot of Robertson in a high-speed tackle, but he only saw yellow.
Klopp was also yellow-carded for his rant at the fourth official, sarcastically bowing as he went into the book.
“I was a bit more emotional in the game. He comes over and gives me a yellow card but I’d have preferred the right decisions on the pitch,” the Liverpool boss said after the match.
Liverpool equalised on 35 minutes through Jota, who headed home a floated cross from Robertson.
Spurs were denied a claim for a penalty in the second half when midfielder Alli went down inside the box, and Liverpool raced to the other end of the pitch, with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold firing a cross that was headed in by Robertson.
Son struck back on 74 minutes as he slotted into an empty net after rounding goalkeeper Alisson.
Robertson saw red moments after the restart when he kicked through the back of Emerson. He was originally given a yellow, but referee Paul Tierney changed his mind after the Video Assistant Referee instructed him to review the pitchside monitor.
“I think it was an exciting game and we created many chances to score and win the game,” Conte, whose side were back in action for the first time in two weeks after COVID-19 postponements, said.
“We have to be a bit disappointed for the draw. For sure we played against a really strong team.
“For the chances we created, we go home with the thought instead of one point it could be three points.”
Liverpool play Leicester City in the League Cup on Wednesday, Leeds United on Boxing Day and then Leicester in the league on Dec. 28, a schedule Klopp says is “impossible.”
“We do not have the players. We could maybe have another [COVID-19] case or two. We have to think about it, we cannot just push it all through. We would prefer to play but we need some help. If we carry on we cannot carry on as usual.”
Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi have all been left out of the team-sheet to play Everton on Thursday night after returning positive tests.
The west Londoners already have Mateo Kovacic in isolation after he tested positive for Covid last week – with Thomas Tuchel’s plans serious disrupted for the Stamford Bridge clash.
Ben Chilwell, who is currently out with a knee injury, has also returned a positive test.
Kai Havertz meanwhile has been left out of the squad, as he awaits test results.
It comes amidst news of match postponements and players missing games due to positive tests across the rest of the league.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel told BT Sport ahead of the game: “Except for Kai Havertz, we have positive cases and Kai feels unwell and are waiting on test results.
“We did some extra tests at 12:00 GMT today and who arrives at lunch, from there we had to pick the team. The situation started yesterday. The results are the results and we still have a strong squad that should still be able to compete. We focus on the guys that are there.
“I did not lose my concentration, at some point it is getting difficult and with the overuse of players.”
