Ignited by a dominant second half display, Chelsea Football Club departed Wolverhampton with all three points for the first time since September of 2019.
It seemed to be another one of those matches in the first half, with the Blues losing the lead not once but twice. Then, came the second 45. Clincial. Rentless. Just what the doctor ordered for Enzo Maresca’s young Chelsea team. Following the defeat to open the campaign at home, there were still a lot of questions. The attack answered a lot of them on Sunday. The class spoke for itself as Gary O’Neil’s Wolves got completely overran by the young talent in blue.
Let’s delve into the CFC players who showed up and showed out in the Midlands over the weekend.
West Londoners who impressed on Sunday at Wolves
3. Noni Madueke
The young Englishman talked that talk and then walked that walk.
After accidentally posting an insult toward the city of Wolverhampton on social media, Noni Madueke went out and tore its local club to bits. The 22-year-old, who already looked destined to find the back of the net with the kind of threat he presented during the first half, netted a 14-minute second half hat trick — his first in the Premier League. Two with his right foot. One with the left. His athleticism, unpredictability and directness make him a player defenders should dread encountering.
The right wing belongs to him. No questions asked.
Noni collecting his match ball! 🔥#CFC | #WOLCHE pic.twitter.com/LrognmMPUG
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 25, 2024
“Today means a lot,” said Madueke following the victory. “I was really just trying to be clever and wait for the right moment. The system allows us to probe and probe and keep the possession higher up the pitch. Maybe in the first half, it was a bit more end to end and then we gained control in the second half.”
2. Cole Palmer
New season, same old guy. An ice cold killer. That’s Cole Palmer in blue. He exudes composure, demanding the kind of respect veterans tend to garner. Just a reminder that somehow he didn’t start a single game for England at the European Championships this summer. The way he conducts play in that No. 10 position is second to none. His coolness in the middle of the pitch allows for the speed on the outside to play much more freely. The only reason why he should be playing out wide anymore is if the injury list forces him to.
For the second time since joining the West Londoners last season, the ex-Manchester City man bagged multiple assists en route to an emphatic league triumph. Palmer recorded four goal contributions, moving his total as a Blue to 37 in just 35 Premier League matches. What mesmerizes me is how effortless it all looks to him. Just look at the weight he puts on his passes. It’s as if he has an innate sense of the pitch’s dimensions and his teammates’ movements.
1. Levi Colwill
Give Levi his flowers, please and thank you. With six goals hitting the back of the net, the focus inevitably shifts to the attack, and rightfully so. We’re not going to let this display from the Blues’ new No. 6 go by without any sort of recognition. Whatever the future of the defense in West London looks like, the 21-year-old is surely going to be part of it. I will lead a riot outside Stamford Bridge if the ownership opts to send his talents elsewhere.
In the Midlands, the center back’s passing was exquisite His interventions were timely. And he set an example within a defense that is still trying to find its way under a new regime. We’re witnessing a future captain in the making.
Colwill was flawless in his ground challenges, winning all of them. Additionally, he led the game in successful passes, completing 71 with an impressive 92% accuracy, according to FotMob. His precision regarding line-breaking distributions from distance is key, especially in a system that prioritizes keeping the ball. It was the second consecutive week in which the left-sided center back completed at least 90 percent of his passes.
Maresca’s men return to action on Thursday in the UEFA Conference League against Swiss outfit Servette FC. The second leg is slated to kick off at 19:30 BST within the confines of Stade de Genève.
