Before the inquest into Chelsea’s latest implosion begins, it is worth pointing out that Wolves were outstanding. Gary O’Neil, such a bright young manager, outwitted a glowering Mauricio Pochettino.
Matheus Cunha, who scored a ruthless hat-trick, and Pedro Neto destroyed Chelsea’s feeble defence. Mario Lemina and João Gomes dominated their expensive opponents in midfield. Craig Dawson was a tower of strength at the back. Rayan Aït-Nouri never stopped running on the left.
What a job O’Neil has done since taking over last summer. This 4-2 triumph, a first victory for Wolves at Stamford Bridge since 1979, had nothing to do with luck. The difference was that while one team turned up with a plan the other resembled a group of confused, uncommitted, individuals. Chelsea, back in the bottom half after shipping eight goals in their past two games, were an utter disgrace as their run of nine games unbeaten at home came to a grisly end.
Instead of discipline, there was merely the pitiful sight of players arguing among themselves. Instead of intensity, there were a series of blase challenges from Chelsea. Instead of leadership and clarity, there was no sign of Pochettino adjusting his tactics once it became clear that Wolves had the upper hand.
Serious questions must be asked about Pochettino after a performance so lacking in direction and desire. Moisés Caicedo, a midfielder acquired for £115m, had to be taken off for his own good. Neto ran riot against Thiago Silva and the captain, Ben Chilwell. Built at a cost of £1bn, everything about Chelsea was weak and pathetic. It is no exaggeration to say they look broken under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Stamford Bridge was an anxious, irritable place throughout. Wolves sensed the nerves and immediately pressed. Cunha and Neto had chances to test Djordje Petrovic, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, after Caicedo twice lost possession during the opening moments.
Chelsea responded with sporadic bursts. They threatened when Chilwell released Christopher Nkunku, who was denied by José Sá’s brave goalkeeping and Dawson’s alert defending, but there was little flow to their play. Even the good bits were improvised. There was nothing resembling an actual identity. Even the opening goal came out of the blue, Conor Gallagher quickening the pace and combining with Caicedo, whose pass evaded Toti Gomes and arrived at a pace that allowed Cole Palmer to beat Sá with an instant right-footed finish.
Going behind changed nothing for Wolves. They pressed again two minutes later, João Gomes picking Caicedo’s pocket and feeding Cunha. The Brazilian ran at Axel Disasi, cut inside from the left and equalised with a shot that deflected in off Silva.
The goal sapped Chelsea’s belief. Gallagher, Caicedo and Enzo Fernández grew ragged in midfield. Nkunku looked lost up front. Malo Gusto almost lost Aït-Nouri. Mario Lemina headed over. Silva made an important block on Neto.
Wolves, who replaced Chelsea in 10th, kept releasing Neto by knocking passes behind Chilwell on their right. Chelsea were a mess. Nobody put any pressure on the ball and nobody covered Chilwell. Wolves duly took advantage when Nélson Semedo found Neto, who pulled the back for Aït-Nouri to score thanks to a deflection off Disasi.
Chelsea continued to live on the edge at the start of the second half. While Raheem Sterling should have equalised, only to fire wide after outstanding work from Chilwell and Palmer, Wolves almost extended their lead when Neto raced through and forced Petrovic to save. Pablo Sarabia bent a free-kick inches wide.
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Pochettino brought Nicolas Jackson on. Caicedo, the man to make way, punched his seat three times as he reached the bench. It was the most aggression anyone in blue had shown all afternoon. Meanwhile, Neto was soon tearing down the right, easily outpacing Silva, and teeing up Cunha to slam a gleeful shot past Petrovic from close range.
The mood turned ugly. Sarabia missed a chance to make it 4-1 and Jackson fluffed a header at the other end. Enraged, the Chelsea fans began to chant for Roman Abramovich. Unfortunately, the club’s former owner had not made the squad. Instead, Pochettino brought on Carney Chukwuemeka and Mykhailo Mudryk for Nkunku and Sterling, who walked off to loud jeers.
It made no difference. There was time for Gusto to lose Cunha and concede a penalty with a ridiculous challenge. The anger grew when Cunha sent Petrovic the wrong way from the spot. It briefly subsided when Silva’s header made it 4-2 but even 10 minutes of added time were not enough to deny Wolves their first double over Chelsea since 1975.
