Chelsea stage late show against West Ham to leapfrog into top four

The game, held at Stamford Bridge, saw Chelsea recover from a first-half deficit with strategic substitutions and a surge in intensity after the break.

Jarrod Bowen had given West Ham the lead three minutes before halftime, capitalizing on a loose pass from Levi Colwill. However, the second half belonged to Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's manager, made a significant impact with his five substitutions, most notably introducing Pedro Neto, who equalized with a well-taken goal after coming off the bench.

"It was huge," Maresca said after the match. "It was a tough game, especially mentally. It is never easy when teams come here and wait and sit back. You need to be patient. There is no space, you need to move the ball and wait for the right moment."

Neto's equalizer was followed by an unfortunate own goal from West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, which gave Chelsea the lead. "In the second half we came back and overall we deserved to win the game. They were waiting for our mistakes and you can't get frustrated," Maresca reflected.

Chelsea's improvement was evident as they dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities. Despite missing chances, including a late one where Tosin Adarabioyo blocked a shot from Mohammed Kudus, Chelsea held on to secure the win.

Maresca was pleased with how his team managed the game, "It is always about the players. It is not about the manager. It was just a feeling we had during the game. I think we need to improve in the final third in terms of chances and being more clinical."

This victory marked only the second win for Chelsea in their last eight league games, propelling them to 43 points from 24 games, two points ahead of both Manchester City and Newcastle United.

"We are there and hopefully we can be there until the end. Playing this kind of game in February, where we are still there, is an important statement," Maresca stated.

The match also continued a curious streak where no former Chelsea manager has won a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge since leaving the club, with Graham Potter, now at West Ham, adding to this record.

The atmosphere on social media reflected the excitement of the comeback, with fans on X sharing their delight in Chelsea's resilience and the tactical masterclass by Maresca. The match has breathed new life into Chelsea's campaign for a Champions League spot, showcasing both the team's potential and the challenges they face in maintaining consistency.

"It was a good weekend for us in terms of results, and we knew today was even better," Maresca concluded, highlighting the significance of this win in the context of the ongoing season.