‘Wild celebrations but Chelsea top-five bid still on knife edge’

The celebrations were wild.

As Pedro Neto’s 93rd-minute stunner completed a defiant Chelsea fightback at Fulham, there was no doubt about the importance of the strike.

Chelsea leapfrogged rivals Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest to return to the Premier League top five, a spot which would earn the club qualification for the Champions League next season.

And, after weeks of negativity around Chelsea’s form and hostility from sections of supporters towards head coach Enzo Maresca, the players and fans celebrated as one – with the scenes carrying on long after the final whistle.

Chelsea’s first away league win of the year was sparked by the introduction of 18-year-old academy product Tyrique George, with his 83rd-minute equaliser the prelude to a dramatic finale.

And it all came just when Chelsea’s top-five challenge was in danger of fizzling out.

Had Chelsea drawn, we would be talking about a club without a win in nine away matches, seventh in the table with goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s struggling and several goalless forwards.

But, instead, Maresca was able to speak in bullish fashion about his side’s season.

“Chelsea in the last two years have never been in the Champions League spot and this season we spent the whole season there,” he said.

“Today doesn’t change my view, it is already a good season and can become very good if we finish in the Champions League spot.

“But for sure today was an important win because it is a derby and can give us a chance – it was probably also the most difficult win – because our rivals all played yesterday so it is was must-win. “

After celebrating on the touchline, Maresca went down the tunnel rather than join his players and coaching staff in soaking in an important victory with the 3,000-strong away support.

There are still some causes for concern at Chelsea after the comeback win, with struggling forward Christopher Nkunku left out due to a “technical decision”.

In addition, Maresca said that defender Malo Gusto’s muscular injury is “not a good one” and the Frenchman joins defender Wesley Fofana and striker Marc Guiu on the injured list, with winger Mykhailo Mudryk provisionally suspended following a failed drugs test.

After the match, Maresca said his decision not to celebrate with the away end was more about giving his players time in the spotlight.

He said: “I was very happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end but I think it was a moment for the players because they deserve to celebrate with the fans.

“That’s the reason I left the pitch immediately. And then when we scored the second one, I celebrated and this was the reason they give me the yellow card, but it was a nice moment between the players and the fans to share that moment. I said many times, the players need to feel that support. “

There remains concern about the 16-game goal drought of Cole Palmer and Chelsea’s general lack of production from their forward line.

Jadon Sancho’s strike against Ipswich last week, ending a run of 21 games without scoring, was the first by a Chelsea forward in the league since 25 February.

Tyrique George was promoted from the academy team to the first team on 19 December in a touching moment filmed by the club’s channels.

He and defender Josh Acheampong were both given permanent first-team lockers after signing new deals in 2024, and most of their opportunities for game time have come in the Conference League.

George, who has been with Chelsea since the age of eight, made 10 Conference League appearances, scoring his first goal for the club away at Legia Warsaw in the last round.

He is the fifth youngest Premier League scorer for Chelsea and youngest since Callum Hudson-Odoi against Burnley in 2020.

“I think Tyrique, when he scored, it was a nice moment but also gave an extra energy to the players to try to win the game in the last minute,” said Maresca.