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Watch: Breaking Down That Immaculate Chelsea Counter Attack Move-By-Move

Mikey Traynor
By Mikey Traynor
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Chelsea proved their title credentials, if they were in doubt at all, by coming from behind to earn a huge win away to Manchester City in Saturday's afternoon kickoff.

A Gary Cahill own goal had the hosts leading at half-time, but after Kevin De Bruyne missed a golden chance to make it 2-0, City were punished as Diego Costa drew them level, before a breathtaking counter-attack resulted in the goal that won the match.

City nearly took the lead as Ilkay Gundogan flashed a dangerous ball across the face of the goal, but within seconds Claudio Bravo was picking the ball out of his net after some lightning-quick decision making by Hazard, Costa, and Willian.

Here's how it happened.

1 - An instinctive flick from Fabregas finds Hazard in space.

He didn't know much about it as the ball came flying at him from Marcos Alonso's clearance, but Fabregas steered the ball into Hazard's path, and with the Belgian in space the move began.

2 - Willian pins his ears back and sets off for the space.

As soon as the ball is on it's way to Hazard, Willian sets off in a straight line and doesn't look back, which keeps Kolarov from tucking in to help on Diego Costa.

3 - Hazard rolls a beautifully weighted ball into Diego Costa.

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A perfect ball that makes up Diego Costa's mind for him, the Spaniard let it run through him without a touch, meaning he can play a pass immediately.

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4 - Costa then sends Otamendi to the shops after he comically over-commits.

This is the crucial mistake, as Nicolas Otamendi flys in to make Gary Neville in the Sky Sports' commentary booth cringe. A rash decision from a rash player ultimately proves costly.

5 - Diego Costa threads the perfect ball to put Willian through.

Another perfectly weighted pass, no question of off-side, two defenders taken out of the game, and now it's up to Willian.

6 - Willian's touch at full-sprint is exactly perfect.

Sure enough, the Brazilian takes the ball beautifully in stride, keeping the straight run he started deep in his own half and making the shot choice an easy one.

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7 - Willian buries the finish.

Low, hard, and into the corner. Pefection every step of the way.

Conte has transformed this Chelsea team, and the system he has established not only appears to be getting the best out of his players, but confuse the opposition as well.

Their third goal also came on the counter-attack, and it's clear that with the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa on top-form, chasing a goal against Chelsea is a very dangerous game as they can pounce before you even realise what's going on.

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That makes it eight wins in a row since they switched to the 3-4-3. Remarkable.

SEE ALSO: The Player Ratings As Chelsea Show Grit To Topple Man City

 

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