Chapter 1: What led to Chelsea's comeback victory against Southampton?
Willian stands over this.
To Hazard. Olivier Giroud pounces again. Marc Hughes can't believe what he's seeing. The scoreline reads Southampton 2, Chelsea 3.
Chelsea were trailing Southampton 2-0 when Olivier Giroud came on, but two goals from him makes it 19 Premier League goals as a substitute. Only Jermaine Defoe has more. A man-of-the-match performance from Giroud. He's with Greg Whelan.
Olivier, congratulations. That wasn't a bad way to open your Premier League account for Chelsea, was it?
Yeah, obviously I was waiting for it. I tried so many times to put it back off the net, but sometimes I miss luck and sometimes a bit of efficiency. But the thing is, when you're a striker, you need to keep going, keep the confidence high, even if I play a little bit less these last weeks. I really want to help the team to bounce back in this second half.
Obviously, the beginning of the game, that's not what we wanted. That's not what we expected, you know. But, you know, in football, you always have the opportunity to step up and bounce back, as I said. So we've shown great character, great team spirit, and I'm very pleased for the team today.
Did you go out there with something to prove when you went on for that last half an hour?
Say again?
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Chapter 2: How did Olivier Giroud impact the game after coming on as a substitute?
Did you go out there with something to prove, did you feel?
Yeah, I mean, I used to say that football is an everlasting new beginning, you know, so you always need to question yourself, you know, and in the tough moments, you know, the most important is to show some character and I've been through some difficulties in my career and all the time I try to, you know, come back stronger and it's happened again today and I'm very pleased for me and for the team.
When you went on as substitute, Southampton had just scored their second goal. Could the team really see a way back at that point?
Yeah, it was tough for us. The second goal was difficult, you know, Yeah, but one more time again, the most important thing is even if you concede one, two goals, never give up, you know, and believe in our quality, play our game. That's what we've done until the end. And I'm very proud of what we've done today with our amazing support fans.
When did you get a sense yourself that a comeback like that might be on? After you scored the first?
Yeah, you know, I said when I came in, I said to Eden, come on, we need to fight till the end, keep believing. And yeah, obviously I didn't tell him that we're going to score, him and I, but I believe that the first goal we score maybe put them in a bad position. So yeah, we succeeded to make it and it's very nice for the team.
Have you kept alive a glimmer of hope that a top-four finish is possible?
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Chapter 3: What were Giroud's thoughts on his performance and the team's spirit?
As long as mathematically it's going to be possible, we're going to believe. So, yeah, just, as I said, take the game one by one and we've got maybe five or six finals to play. Let's do the job and after we'll see the other team.
Well, congratulations on the win, the goals. You're also the Premier League man of the match, Olivier. Well done today. Thank you very much.
Big performance from Olivier Giroud. Big performance for Chelsea as well to come from 2-0 down to win that game by three goals to two. However, from Southampton's point of view, it wasn't without controversy, Matthew. Talk us through the first goal for Chelsea.
Yeah, well, I'm not quite sure where Mike Dean sees the foul. The only thing I think is that bit there where he grabs his arm, which is 10 yards into Chelsea's half. He plays advantage for quite a few seconds. He then points back to where he thinks the foul was. He lets them take the free kick, but he pulls it back.
And then they move it one yard, and then he goes, I'll tell you what, just carry on, you're all right. Having said that... You can't defend the way Southampton defended in that second half there and expect to win football matches in the Premier League. You've got to be better than that defensively. You can't just blame it on the referee. You've got to do your job properly.
You've got to mark people in the box. And unfortunately, our defending this season has not been anywhere near good enough for Premier League standards.
Dennis, as well worked as that was from Chelsea, should the free kick have been taken from that position?
You know, Wood Prowse has actually pointed as well. And he's turned his back and then turned back and looked at the player game. And in that time, the ball went across to Alonso. Now, Mike Deena has to do his job. Simple as that. You know, these things, you know, I think Matt touched it. Yes, their defending was appalling at times, Southampton. They've conceded too many goals and you see why.
But you don't want to be standing here and talking about a referee constantly that makes mistake after mistake and causes the teams to concede goals by not making the right decision. He didn't make the right decision. He wasn't strong enough to push it over where it needed to go. He allowed them to play. He should never have done that.
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Chapter 4: What challenges did Chelsea face when Southampton went 2-0 up?
I don't know, Kelly. What I'll say is if he's seen it, he's going to give it because without that, we've all seen that. We've seen that. We'll judge that as a red card offense.
Dermot, is this a mistake or two mistakes then by Mike Dean? If he's missed two, what you think are clear red cards when he's been reasonably close to them?
One red card.
One red card. One red card. Sorry, one red card. Is this a mistake from him then?
Well, it's something he hasn't seen. It's an unseen incident. And as I say, it can be referred later. They will speak to Mike Dean. Did he see it? He will obviously say no. And then the FA can proceed if they want to.
Southampton looking to stay in the Premier League and they gave themselves the best chance with a 2-0 cushion against Chelsea. But an inspired substitution, Olivier Giroud yet again with two of Chelsea's three goals to give them all three points. Well, it seems like a long time ago in this game, Mathieu Letissier, when you were bouncing around in the studio, but they did go 1-0 up.
Dijon Tadic's first goal since Boxing Day.
Yeah, they did indeed. It was a well-worked goal. You know, Bertrand gets forward brilliantly well. Zappacosta just got sucked in, didn't follow the man, and he left himself with Azpilicueta to get past. He showed great pace, great determination, great desire, which is something that we haven't seen enough of this season.
And the ball back to Tadic was, you know, perfectly weighted, and it was a simple goal for Tadic. You know, the... The annoying thing is, I think, from being a Southampton supporter, is that when you're watching the game and you go ahead in the game, you're never confident this season. You know, you've mentioned it before six times, been in front and haven't gone on to win the game.
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Chapter 5: How did Chelsea manage to equalize and take the lead?
But it was a terrific finish, and at that point, it was a fantastic position to be in in the game.
From Chelsea's point of view though, Dennis, did you see them coming back into the game?
No, I didn't. I'll be honest. I don't know what Antonio said at half-time, but I don't think it was too much. He's probably had a little rant because he sent him out early. You see him sitting on the bench and waiting while he'd sent his players out on the pitch. Whatever he said, whatever he'd done, it worked. It really did. They were a different team the second half and got themselves into it.
As much as we've talked about the refereeing decisions around this and where the free kick is taken from, once it was taken, how well did Chelsea do?
I think the ball here from Alonso, when it finally gets started, the game gets started again, Fabregas obviously plays it quick, and this ball here from Alonso, he's picked him out so well. Giroud, who's the type of person who comes on at times, and I think sometimes I look at when Conte's made a substitution that... Maybe could have put him on earlier at times in other games.
But he's got his spot on today in the time that he's put him on. Needed to get back into the game. Threw him on. Do you know what? This is what he's capable of, you know? Fantastic ball by Alonso. And this is a great header. And it gets Chelsea back into the game. You know, and it's something that they needed.
And as much as Southampton can point to maybe a lack of fortune about the first goal that they conceded, Matthew, if you're going to leave Eden Hazard unmarked in the box, is this just what's going to happen?
100%. You can't leave people in acres of space in a penalty area. Firstly, I think we struggled not just on this goal but at other times in that period just to clear our lines and get enough distance on any clearances. I mean, that's a lot of space to have in a crowded penalty box. That's a lot of space to give any player, let alone somebody in Eden Hazard's quality.
They're marking space, Matt, aren't they? Instead of marking players. Space never score goals.
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Chapter 6: What were the refereeing controversies surrounding the match?
You made two changes just after Southampton scored their second goal. What difference did that make, do you feel?
I don't know. I think the coach has to try to find a different solution. if you are losing. But I think the difference was that we played the second half with great desire, with great will to fight, with great will not to lose another game. Also because I think no-one deserves this type of season.
Did Olivier Giroud remind you as his coach of what he can offer as a striker?
Yeah, but I'm happy for him. I'm happy for him because Olivier, we all know very well, we are talking about international players and he has specific characteristics and he's working very well and I'm very happy for him.
Southampton were unhappy, Antonio, about a challenge by Marcus Alonso on Shane Long before half-time. What was your view of that challenge?
I must be honest and... I didn't see this situation. As you know very well, for me, after the game, I don't like to comment on the referee's decision. I didn't see this situation.
Very briefly, final question. Why haven't we seen more of that sort of reaction in the second half? Why haven't we seen more of that from Chelsea in recent weeks?
Why? I think that in every game we must play with a great spirit, with great passion, with great enthusiasm. Then you can lose. draw or win. But in your mind, in your heart, you must know that you give everything for this team, for this colour, for our fans. I think these are the most important things and we have to finish this season with this spirit. Antonio, well done today.
Thank you very much.
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