Fernandez scores injury-time winner as Chelsea comeback stuns West Ham

0:06Pien Meulensteen:This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Thanks for joining us. There was a London derby for us to enjoy on Saturday evening as West Ham travelled across the capital to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Here's how the game finished.

0:25And Chelsea complete the comeback of comebacks at Stamford Bridge. Well that really is a game of two halves. The second half belongs to Chelsea, the game belongs to Chelsea. But they were put through the ringer in the first by an excellent first half display by West Ham who got themselves into a well-deserved two-goal lead, Jared Bowen and Crescenzio Somerville. But three half-time changes by Liam Rossini changed the direction of traffic and the substitutes contribute two goals and two assists from those he sent on goals from João Pedro goals from Cucurea and then the winner on the occasion of his 150th match for

1:09Pien Meulensteen:Chelsea from Enzo Fernandes Gary Neville what a great comeback for Chelsea creating their own history having never done it before coming back from two goals down devastation for West Ham they contributed enormously to the game but Chelsea, I mean you can watch them in the same game and think two completely different things they look like kids and babies for large parts of the games and all of a sudden they come to life and they're a real force and they go into the top four and they'll go into that game against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday so confident having come back in the last two games against Napoli and West Ham and West Ham, keep your heads up, if you play like that you've got a great chance of staying up well Liam Rossigno called this Chelsea's biggest game of the season ahead of it looked like it had got away but they have snatched it back another win it's six and seven for him it's Chelsea three West Ham two well what a comeback for Chelsea Jamie when you saw that first-half performance were you expecting this from Chelsea in the second half what I said at half time they just could not be any worse Chelsea so that was my fear for West Ham and they managed to get a grip of the game he made vital substitutions obviously and they came on you got two goals and two assists from the subs that he made obviously Jal Pedro goal and assist it was wild that second half was the Premier League is brilliant best it was an absolute spectacle even at the end the fazzy aggression the players but he'll be delighted because that was a tough first half for him and to turn it around Gary Level said it brilliantly you know they were getting obviously booed at half time and then he changed it they got some energy into the team and it wasn't about tactics it was just about getting the right players on the pitch people like Cucurella giving you energy giving you desire Fofano obviously with a first assist a wild amazing football match and it's just a little snippet of where Chelsea are right now they are chaotic at times but I mean that will feel so good for him and you can see that bit of relief on his face how much credit does liam rosina get for this result this turnaround this comeback from chelsea well he righted the wrongs and i'm in agreement with jamie in some ways but actually i think he's got a big problem now he's got the same problem as mareska that the guys who aren't the starting eleven and we all know the sign eleven are so far off the starting eleven that he can't turn around and it feels a little bit a little bit shallow when he says it's the biggest game of the season and then the guys go out and perform like that in the first half.

3:42So he's going to be delighted, but also in the back of his mind, he's got a problem. OK, let's hear from two Chelsea players that certainly were influential in this game. Mark Cucurea and João Pedro are speaking with Johnny Phillips. Mark, that was an incredible comeback. How did you do it? Yeah, well, I think at the halftime, we speak, we improve some needs. At the end, it's about the mentality, about the desire. I think we show it in the second half, and we are very happy. How much did Liam Rossini say to you at half-time that things had to change? What was it in particular? Well, I think they said it's about us.

4:18If we go to press, if we want the ball, if we play with confidence, we can create chances, it's what we do. And we're very happy for these three points because it's very important for us. Joao, were there some very strong words at half-time? Because the first half, it wasn't acceptable, was it? Yeah, sometimes this can happen, but you have a stronger squad. I think we show again one more time why you are capable to do it and I need to look forward and keep going like this. How pleased are you with the strength of the team and the way they attack that second half? I think we know our power. I think when they first play with us, we have more energy to do like this, to do the comeback.

5:01So yeah, another special day and when you have a great game on Tuesday as well. Marc, even though there was only one half of football to do it, were you confident you could get the three goals? Yeah, well, I know we are tough, but we have a very good players, very good team. I think we have shot some beats, and then since the start of the second half, we show a lot of energy, a lot of desire, and with this tunnel, if we play always with this energy, I think we are able to win a lot of games. Joao, how much character has this team got? You came back against Napoli, you've done it against here. Well, I think the team is very young, but also everyone trusting each other.

5:40I think that's our power. I think, yeah, we still can improve a lot, but I think this game is important to show for the fans how strong we are. Well done to you both. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Well, both on as half-time substitutes and both in and amongst the goals to inspire that comeback for Chelsea. A huge three points for Chelsea. they will certainly be pleased to get that against the West Ham side, who played really well, especially in that first half. All right, then. We've already had a couple of games already today. Brighton-Everton, a point apiece for them, but a massive result for Arsenal at Ellen Road against Leeds, who beat Leeds 4-0, and Bournemouth beating Wolves at Molyneux.

6:33but this is what Chelsea fans will be looking for with that victory they move into the top four two points ahead of Manchester United who still have to play as well but they will be hoping that they can cement their place in that top four Arsenal currently seven points clear

6:55As for West Ham then, they stay rooted in the relegation zone, still struggling to get out of that place as they look for their hopes for safety and survival in the Premier League this season.

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8:00Welcome back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game. Niseido. Brown Pedro. And in! A goal to lead in stoppage time. A goal to break Hammershaw. Well, despite all of their efforts, West Ham came away from that game with nothing because of an unbelievable comeback from Chelsea, which you can see the difference from their first half performance to their second half performance. The amount of shots that Chelsea had, the big chances as well, going from zero to four, their expected goals. And of course, the most important thing is, of course, getting those three goals over the line.

8:53But it certainly was one of those games, wasn't it, where you looked at this West Ham performance and you thought they're playing really, really well here. They've made some really good chances in the first half, getting those two goals. You said it at the start of the second half, this 15-minute period is really important for West Ham and Chelsea going score. Yeah, and the legs just started to go a little bit. It was 57 minutes ahead. One big chance, didn't they? Before that, didn't take it. And then the waves started to come. And it's just feeling how long they could last until that first goal was breaching them.

9:20But it was a really well-worked goal and something that you're feeling, you know, just the legs started to show that they started to tire in there. How much credit are you giving Liam Rossina for those changes? Because we were questioning, how do Chelsea change this? We saw that they were going to make changes at halftime. Three really important players coming on and clearly making the difference.

9:39Pien Meulensteen:Yeah, I'll give him credit because he made them. But I think if you probably asked every single Chelsea fan, I think it was the easiest substitutions he probably ever had to make. You had Garnasio was having a nightmare. He had to come off the pitch. Hato was really struggling at left back. And then Badia Shield was really finding it difficult. And West Ham was just overrunning it. So I think that's probably as easy a three substitutes he's ever going to make. But bringing these on obviously makes a difference. Cucurella, one of the best left backs in the world. Fofana can come forward with a ball as well, which obviously has an impact on the goal for the first one.

10:10Pien Meulensteen:And then you've got Gael Pedro, which gives you a bit of impetus, a centre forward up there that's going to get up alongside the lap and give you a bit of energy. but Kukurela is one of those guys that you want in your team. You know, he obviously was important with a goal, but just his all-round energy. And he said, sometimes football is about energy and desire. Tactics are a huge part of it, but sometimes it's about passing the ball forward. In that first half, I looked at the stats in terms of possession. There wasn't a great deal of difference between the first and the second half, but the amount of possession that first half that Chelsea went, they had the ball, Garnatio would come back.

10:42Pien Meulensteen:He'd pass it back to Hato. Hato would then give it to Badia Shield, then switch it across the back four. The crowd are getting anxious. There's no energy in the stadium. Second half, they come on. They start to get the ball forward. Right, let's start playing. Let's start playing in their half. Let's get two men up front. Let's be a little bit more aggressive. And that's where the goal comes from. And we'll start with the second half. Obviously, it has a really big impact. You've got Kukurela there. And then you've got finding good areas into the pitch. Now, Fofana gets a little bit of energy.

11:07Pien Meulensteen:And he sees that space that's going to open up. I just want to highlight this. Because obviously now, you've got two forwards up the pitch. And you can see Mavropanos. as first half it was quite it was so easy for him he's now thinking looking over my shoulder okay i've got a bit of a problem here because jal pedro can head it tadibo is going to have the lap now he tadibo makes a mistake here because what he does instead of helping his other center back partner he decides to drift in and once this is once for farna comes into this area i'm going to just going to stop it again there now for now tadibo he started to come across instead of thinking to himself, I can attach myself and get on to this centre forward here.

11:45Pien Meulensteen:We can go two for two. You can see here, Juff is now coming along and coming inside because he's got Gusto out here. He thinks, oh, now one of us has to engage. It's brilliant play by Fofano. Gary Neville said it in commentary. But Madra Panos, just watch him. He has a problem because he's now thinking, do I go with the lap if he comes into this area or do I then stay where I am and mark Jao Pedro? He sort of gets caught in between, Rob, doesn't he? He digs a great cross out, and you can see Mavropanos then can't get back in time. A brilliant header, and it's such a difficult one for the keeper as well, isn't it?

12:17It's really tough, but you're looking at the presence of Cole Palmer, and we just go back a fraction, and you're looking at Somerville. It's his job along with Pablo. Now, Pablo is knackered by this point. His legs have gone, and he can't track back round. Somerville wants to come out, but the presence of Cole Palmer doesn't allow him, the presence of Gusto pushing on up high. and this comes from the confidence that they've got of keeping the ball and they kept the ball and they were more intense in that second half with the ball and all of a sudden from there, and as you said Jeremy, from there you're looking at Tadibo and you're thinking, if I'm in doubt, just protect the goal.

12:52As centre-halves, just stand in front of the goal. One at the near post, one at the far post and you won't go that far wrong. He's way beyond the goal and Mavropanos can't get back in and cover both of them. Wan-Bissaka can't get back in and get round and all of a sudden, from nowhere, you're looking fairly steady, fairly in your shape and you're outnumbered. It's well worked by Chelsea, but you're feeling the legs started to go, decision-making started to go as well from West Ham.

13:16Pien Meulensteen:And that's the difference between playing two up front. We don't see it very often, you know, and it's a really, obviously, good ball, really good header and he gives Arreola no chance whatsoever. It's a little bit of play by the centre-back as well for Fahna. The stretch and the energy on his net, just to get his head, all he's concerned about is making contact on that far side of the ball. You can see it. He doesn't even know where it's coming off the side of his head. I've just got to get my head on that side of the ball and get it back across goal. And he does enough. And then chaos. You can feel it.

13:45Pien Meulensteen:The stadium, everything, they're booing, they're angry, they're anxious. All of a sudden that transmits to the players. Now that's gone and we're on your side. We're now on your side. And it just makes such a difference to the players. The confidence started to come. And then Cucurella. I mean, I'm a massive fan of his. Really, really impacted this one as well. He just starts to find himself in good positions. There he is there. He's so obviously, well, I'll pick him up. But he's always on the move. Like he's making runs in behind. He's now causing Wan-Pasaka problems. In that first half, Hato was finding it difficult.

14:16Pien Meulensteen:He'd normally be in this area. You've got people that want the ball. Garnaccio didn't want it. Straight away, you've got Neto there. And they're moving it really quickly. They play that ball out wide. You've got a bit of movement. You've got your two up front as well. You can see Gio Pedro wants it here. Ball then comes into that back post. another great header back and what he does is magnificent i'm just going to highlight him here because this is here he is it's like he puts his cape on watch what he does with his hair he thinks i know something's going to happen here he moves his hair out the way because in a minute i'm going to have a really important header look there he is i'll fix my hair quickly then the ball comes back into him now his reaction is brilliant see because he has no right to get this you can see Tadebo as that ball's going to get headed onto the bar he'll be the one normally clearing it but look at this desire by your left back to go and head the ball absolutely magnificent and dive he could have got kicked in the face brilliant piece of play Rob wasn't it yeah it's fantastic and you're just thinking from the west hand point of view what can we do differently and it's really it's really tough for him so then you're looking at the far post and Juve has been outnumbered with Cole Palmer's presence and you can see him he's having to track and it's left with Somerville to pick up Malagusto and there's the mismatch, there's the difference.

15:33Okay we are going to just take a pause in a second over these goals because very pleased to say that we've got the Chelsea manager Liam Rossini with us. Liam thank you so much for your time first of all, how are you feeling how are the players feeling in that dressing room after that comeback? Many emotions I'm so happy for the players, the fight the spirit, the commitment they showed in the second half after a really, really difficult first half. Tactics went out the window. It was about personality and quality and character. And the players definitely showed that in the second half. What did you say at halftime?

16:12What did you want to see change in that second half? Well, I made three changes. Obviously, we had the injury to Jamie Gittins. I sensed an energy before the game. It's very difficult going away to Italy. The emotions of that game and coming back, I made changes to the team. I trust my group, but the first half performance was nowhere near the level in terms of application or energy. But I stayed really calm with them. I said we can turn what probably feels like the worst day of our season into the best day of our season. And the players were magnificent in the second half. Liam, it's Rob Green.

16:45I was just wondering about you talked about talking to the players in the first half saying it wasn't good enough. Do you feel that there's a concern within that group of the confidence of the guys that started in the first half? then the stark contrast that there was in the second half that that sort of first half performance compounds maybe being on the fringe of the side not being in the strongest 11 maybe you're feeling that that sort of is a negative of the game today no i think for me i'm learning about this group very very quickly i've been in now three and a half weeks i think we've played seven games um and and i want i've said to them from the first day i'm going to give them all a chance Terrell Hart is an outstanding young player Badia Shields is a fantastic young player so is Ali Garnaccio it wasn't just about their individual performance I just felt as a team our functionality as a team wasn't there in the first half and what I'm very pleased with I have to say with all of them you can see the fight and the spirit and the energy and the group and the belief that they have so for us as a group to come back in the second half like we did in Napoli shows me a lot of really really positive things

17:50Pien Meulensteen:Liam, Jamie Redknapp congratulations Congratulations. Hey, Jamie. I want to talk to you that dressing room at halftime. Not an easy place to be, as you said. And then you've got to make three substitutions. How hard is that as a manager when obviously you haven't been at the club that long? That's obviously a difficult thing to do with confidence and everything that goes with it. I think you have to do what you think is right for the team. There was no screaming or shouting. We were very calm. I needed to actually change the shape. We played more of a 4-4-2 old school with Cole being free from the right and Pedro being free from the left.

18:21And it was more about how we win the second half than what happened in the first half. I didn't have time to talk about the first half. It was about how we played, how we got back into the game. But it's not about me. We've got some incredibly talented players here, some young players. What I loved was the energy in the stadium. That's what Chelsea's all about in the second half, fighting the spirit, the running, the effort. This is a local derby. And we showed in the second half all of the things I want to see in my team.

18:49Pien Meulensteen:Let's talk about that winning goal. You showed a lot of emotion there, mate. That must have felt really good. Enzo Fernandes coming in. We've seen number eights at that club score many, many goals like this. Talk us through it. No, look, Enzo has been magnificent. His energy levels to arrive in the box. I thought it was a great decision from Jao Pedro. He gave us something extra when he came on. But we just tried to create overloads all over the pitch and be a little bit freer. And Enzo has been magnificent in my time with him. I love working with him. He's a winner. and I thought he was mad at a match by far in terms of what he gave the team today.

19:21Pien Meulensteen:And how about this celebration? Yeah, normally I'm calm but yeah, that's a really big moment in our season, hopefully and it's great to celebrate with the staff who have been magnificent for me so far. And Enzo's got four goals and two assists for you. He's having a real impact as well. A player, obviously, you're enjoying working with. I love working with him. I love working with all of them, Jamie. They're a delight. They're a pleasure to work with. there's a lot of improvements to make but honestly we are just we're traveling playing getting back and then we're focused on the next game we don't even have training sessions we're doing a lot on meetings so for the players to deliver what they're delivering for me and the club at the moment it's all credit goes to them and with the week in mind you've got a huge game in the league cup coming up it's just a wonderful momentum to take into that isn't it yeah it's going to be a huge game so these are the games you want to be involved in We'll go there with no fear.

20:16We know we're playing against an excellent team. It will be favourites to go through for sure, but we'll give it our best shot. And if we show the resilience, the character and quality of the second half, we have a real chance to go through. Liam, the transfer window closes on Monday, seven o 'clock. The clock is ticking. I know you've said you want to strengthen in all areas, but is there a specific area that you want to strengthen before Monday? Can we expect anything? Possibly, but I have respect for my team. I have respect for any players who aren't in the building. I won't be telling you what position that is.

20:52Liam, thank you so much for your time. Congratulations. Three massive points for you today.

20:56Pien Meulensteen:Thank you. Good night. Well done, Liam. Well done, Liam. Thank you. Let's have a look at that third goal, the winning goal. Well, can we do something first, if you don't mind, Pete? Because I think we should look at that Tadibo chance. Oh, please don't. That felt like a really big moment in the game at 2-2. And at 2-1, It obviously made a change to the manager. He went to a back three. Now, I personally, I totally get this one because, you know, I've been on the pitch at times when things are running away from you and you're thinking, right, how can I change it? How can I wrestle back the initiative?

21:24Pien Meulensteen:And he decides to go to a back three. Now, I remember the game earlier this season. West Ham played with a back three and they really struggled against his Chelsea side. And as soon as he did that, he brought Kilman on. You had the two up front because they played probably what you would call a 4-4-2 first half. They changed it. and then that started to bring wave after wave of attack from Chelsea's point of view. But this was a massive chance for your former side, Rob. He had an interesting second half. You always felt the craziness of the game, that you thought something was going to come. And Gary Neville mentioned it.

21:56The three centre-halves on the pitch and Socek, and they're combining in there. And it is just that little stab, these huge moments within a game. You're thinking, he can't believe it himself. Look at me. That's the moment. That's the moment. That's game over. That could have been the game there and then. And it's just those finite margins. When you're down the bottom, there you go against him.

22:15Pien Meulensteen:Because we weren't sure, actually, if it hit the keeper. We didn't know where it had gone. We just couldn't believe he didn't score. And that felt like, oh, no, they're in trouble now because we've just seen that film so many times before. As a player, as a West Ham player, you're looking at that opportunity thinking, we needed to score there. You're a Chelsea player, though. You're looking at it saying, we've got another chance to get a winner here. And that's exactly what they've done. Absolutely. And it was a really, really well-worked goal because at this time, now it's chaos in the stadium.

22:42Pien Meulensteen:And it's really about, can we pick the right pass? Can we stay calm in these situations? And he mentioned it, and Jao Pedro really does. You can see that you've got your two forwards up there playing together. 4-4-2, like he mentioned. It's a bit more traditional, old-style English football. Sorry, so once Cole Palmer's on the ball, he's calm. He doesn't rush the pass, finds it into the right man. Then Caicedo slides a beautiful pass into him. And I'm thinking there, how many times have we seen this? There, I just want to highlight this guy here, the number eight. Now, because, listen, he's my cousin.

23:17Pien Meulensteen:I don't mind talking about him. He was the greatest number eight of goal-scoring, probably midfield player we've ever seen. This was what Frank Lampard did. I'm sure he must have done to you a few times, Rob. He did it to me. Last minutes of games, when everyone else is tired, you can see Suchek, Fernandes, they're tired. Their legs have gone. he makes a brilliant run and a great decision as well. We're all screaming shoot at that point and it's a fantastic finish just to wrap his foot around the ball because you're thinking it's a little bit behind him as you can see he manages to adjust his feet and he's not worried about the contact itself it's just get the ball on target.

23:53West Ham were absolutely shot to pieces by then. Callum Wilson didn't respond to Kai Sado then Socek gets pulled out. That creates a yard or two of space for Enzo Fernandes and they are capitalising and it's so well worked.