Maurizio Sarri – Chelsea manager said he was pleased with how Chelsea “suffered before beating Prague” in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
The goal came in late from Marcos Alonso to secure the 1-0 victory from a very difficult match against Slavia in Prague.
Sarri, however, said that the blues have really improved judging from their performance from earlier in the season, when in difficult moments would “immediately concede.”
He said, “In the past we were not able to suffer in the difficult moments of a match, now we are able to stay in trouble and suffer without conceding.”
A tired Chelsea struggled to find any rhythm for large spells, but grew into the game after Eden Hazard went off the bench into the match just before the hour mark.
Four minutes before match end, Alonso was just at the perfect spot and right on time as he met Willian’s right-wing cross with an incredible header. The second leg of the battle continues on the 18th April at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea return home victorious, but this was absolutely not a vintage European performance from the winners of the 2013 Europa League.
Willian’s powerful shot hit the crossbar in the first half, but it was until the 59th minute for Rudiger to place their first shot on target, after Hazard came on.
And the Belgian was key as Chelsea pressed on with more intensity and turned serious dangers to the opposition, while Willian’s shot didn’t see the net after a beautiful one-two with Olivier Giroud.
Alonso had a poor game judging by his high standards, but converted the assist with a late run into the area to surprise the home crowd.