Chelsea have quietly undergone a transformation this season, and just last Sunday night they thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 at home in the Premier League. Although high priced midfield signing Ansu Fernandes was in a slump, he hadn't scored for most of the season until two consecutive excellent performances in the league restored his confidence. City's loss allowed Chelsea to close in on second-placed Arsenal by three points, putting them on the same starting line as their rivals.
Just seven minutes into the match, Chelsea were attacked by Nicklas Jonasson, before Villa striker Oni Günther missed a great one-touch chance, which was valiantly saved by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Chelsea escaped and good fortune seemed to beckon. By the 36th minute, Golpenma's pinpoint cross was met by Ansu Fernandes, who opened the scoring.
The 23-year-old Argentine international, who is worth €120 million (HK$980 million), has been criticized for some time. His relationship with his daughters, Valentina and Cervantes, has been in the public eye for some time, with news of Cervantes' breakup and plans for a sale of the club in the public eye. However, Ansou Fernandes has made a name for himself by scoring in two consecutive Premier League matches and contributing two goals and five assists in his last four games.
As the game came to an end, Galpenma broke a 35-day goal drought with a brilliant long-range shot, regaining his confidence along with Ansou Fernandes. The goal certainly boosted Chelsea's bid significantly, enabling them to take their place in the race against their two biggest rivals, Liverpool and Arsenal.
