Chelsea’s Title Credentials Are Genuine – 7 Key Talking Points From The Middlesbrough Game

Chelsea are now top of the league following a narrow win over Middlesbrough away from home on Sunday.

Diego Costa scored the only goal of the game 4 minutes to the end of half-time to hand the Blues all 3 points, and it took Valdes’ brilliance and the bar to deny Conte’s charges from getting more goals against the Karanka-led hosts.

The cracker of an encounter sure produced a lot of talking points and here are 7 of such takeaways.

Hazard can’t play fine when not 100% fit

The Belgian couldn’t find the back of the net against Middlesbrough to make it 5 times in a roll he would be registering his name on the scoresheet, and that was down to the fact that he couldn’t play his best football.

Hazard sustained a knock during the international break and coupled with the fatigue that comes with such tight schedule, he sure was far from his 100%.

Last season, he played with a hip injury all through and it was the worst campaign of his career. He needs to be fully fit to be able to produce excellent performances, and it’s something the club must do well to consider.

Chelsea won’t always have it easy

Having averaged 3 goals per game in their last 5 fixtures, coming up against the newly-promoted Smoggies was thought by many to be a walk in the park.

Although the international break had its own part to play in Chelsea’s lack of the killer instinct they have had of recent, the game also showed that the Blues won’t always have it easy, particularly against small teams that defend with their all.

It won’t be a jolly smooth ride to a prospective title win.

Costa can win Chelsea the league with his goals

The visitors could only register 3 shots on target all game, and despite that, the league’s highest goal scorer still managed to grab a goal.

Costa’s winning strike highlighted his goal poaching instincts as the swarm of Boro’s defenders surrounding the goal were unexpectedly caught off guard.

With his sharper-than-ever eyes for the goals this term, the Spain international can fire Chelsea to a title victory with his goals once again.

No place for anyone else in the starting XI

For the first time ever, Chelsea fielded the same players for a 5th consecutive game, and it would take only an injury or a sharp dip in form to see any of the established first XI get dropped.

Willian and the likes will have to put up a very strong fight to get back into this team.

Middlesbrough needs better finishers

The hosts weren’t all that bad as they gave Chelsea a very tough time. They played 12 shots, just one less than the Blues, and if they only had forwards with exquisite finishing qualities, it would have been a different story.

Traore won’t be staying at Riverside for long

Former Barcelona and Aston Villa winger Adama Traore, was a constant threat with his marauding runs all around the pitch, and with that quality, the 20-year-old who rejected City and left Camp Nou to get more playing time won’t remain with Karanka for long.

Chelsea’s title credentials are genuine

Although their performances in the next 2 fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City will have a very big say on Chelsea’s title ambitions, nevertheless, they have demonstrated thus far that they have a great claim for the title come May.

Only one other team has won 6 straight EPL games this term, and no one has played just a single draw since. At the moment, Chelsea are real title contenders, and they have all it takes to win it.

Grinding out a win in tough circumstances against Boro goes a long way to prove it.