Our London derby against Tottenham was, as expected, a hard-fought contest with plenty of talking points. And Malo Gusto believes the determination shown by the Chelsea players paid off as we secured a fifth consecutive Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half proved the difference, although there were close calls for both sides, including goals disallowed by VAR. Gusto had also come inches away from giving us an early lead with a thunderous low drive that hit the side-netting.
The Frenchman was excellent at right-back, dropping into midfield when required but also offering us width when combining with Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer, and spent the latter minutes of the game playing off the left flank.
As a result, only Levi Colwill spent more time in possession of those in blue, and after our victory, Gusto reflected on how well we managed the game and showed character when it mattered.
‘It was important for us to win this derby,’ Gusto said. ‘We know how important the game is for the fans, and for us as well, getting back to winning ways. We are happy.
‘We had to stay focused. This type of team is always tricky. We had to stick to our plan. The good thing was the spirit. That’s what the coach said after the game. The spirit was the most important thing, everyone from the bench when they come on, and the fans as well.’
Gusto was keen to praise the support inside Stamford Bridge. Even with so much additional time in the second half that 'we had to suffer’, as Gusto put it, he underlined the impact that backing from the stands had.
‘We felt the energy of the fans,’ he stressed. ‘It was amazing.
‘All the game they were behind us. We need them for the rest of the season to show our best, and we are very happy to give them this win. It was important to show to our fans we want more.’