Chelsea keep perfect record with win over Bournemouth

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Chelsea stretched their perfect Premier League start to four games after second-half goals from substitute Pedro and Eden Hazard gave them a 2-0 home win over Bournemouth on Saturday.

Manager Maurizio Sarri saw Chelsea break down Bournemouth in the closing stages with a clinical performance after they had been stifled by stubborn defending for much of the contest.

Hazard, who ran the show for Chelsea with darting raids and neat footwork before he sealed the match with an arrowed shot from eight metres in the 85th minute, was delighted.

"We were always confident we would score," Hazard told the BBC. "When you're playing like that, you have to be patient. We did well to keep the ball and move it quickly because we were too slow in the first half.

"I'm feeling confident. I'm enjoying my football. We have a new manager and lots of good players."

Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring for Chelsea against Bournemouth.
Eden Hazard celebrates after scoring for Chelsea against Bournemouth.
Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images

Chelsea dominated the first half at Stamford Bridge, but it was Bournemouth who missed the best chance in the opening period through Callum Wilson before Marcos Alonso hit the post at the other end.

Former Chelsea centre-back Nathan Ake skied his shot from three metres over the bar on the hour, and that seemed to be a wake-up call for Chelsea, who struggled despite dominating possession.

Pedro finally broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute after a one-two with fellow substitute Olivier Giroud and a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that gave keeper Asmir Begovic no chance.

Hazard capped his individual performance by scoring after he was put through by Alonso.

Sarri heaped praise on Hazard and looked forward to Chelsea's next match at home to Cardiff City after the international break.

"I don't know if we are able to win something this season, but Eden Hazard is very important to us," Sarri said. "I'm really very happy with my players at the moment. I don't want to think about the last four matches. It's better to think about the next one."