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CHELSEA STAR MALO GUSTO DETERMINED TO SECURE TOP-FOUR FOLLOWING WOLVES WIN

Malo Gusto scored his first professional goal to spark Chelsea's 3-0 win over Wolves. The victory fuels the Blues' top-four Premier League ambition as they aim for a second consecutive Champions League qualification.

Chelsea star Malo Gusto determined to secure top-four following Wolves win
Chelsea’s Malo Gusto (second from left) heads his first goal for the club in the 3-0 win over Wolves - Photo Credit: John Walton/PA

After opening the scoring in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Wolves at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea's Malo Gusto set his sights on another top-four Premier League finish.

After the Blues had frustrated home fans with a gloomy first forty-five minutes, the full-back, who had never scored in his professional career, showed up inside the box early in the second half to head in Alejandro Garnacho's cross.

The lack of penetration from a side whose game strategy seemed to be to try to pass Wolves to death in midfield caused Enzo Maresca's players to be jeered off at the half.

Chelsea swiftly amassed a tally that more accurately represented their control over managerless Wolves, who are currently eight points outside of safety, even if Gusto's goal did not exactly unleash the floodgates.

Garnacho received his second assist with a strong run and cross for Pedro Neto, after Estevao Willian, who had come off the bench, had set up Joao Pedro to make it two.

However, Gusto's breakthrough at finally, over 160 games into his senior club career, was largely responsible for the victory.

He said on Chelsea's official website, "It has been a long time since I came here, and this is only the beginning." "I am rather pleased. This is the one I have been anticipating. I am overjoyed.

It was a significant victory. Before the international break, we had a tremendously crucial performance, and our goal is to place in the top four. We will continue to fight and go forward.

My objective was to bring players into the box as part of our approach. It was crucial to our victory, and we demonstrated that.

Chelsea finished Saturday as the division's leading scorers and restored their reputation near the top with their fourth league victory in five games, despite a sloppy first-half performance.

According to Maresca, the club was a year ahead of schedule due to their Champions League qualification at the end of the previous season, and they seem to be improving this season as well.

Gusto stated, "We had a lot of trouble finding space between the lines in the first half, but we were much better in the second half." We found our guys much more easily after the manager told us to be patient and that the opportunity would present itself at halftime. I believe that is how we got the first goal.

"As a collective, we must continue to develop something."

The setback in west London is probably going to have been the only game in charge for caretaker James Collins, who had stepped up from the under-23 squad, as Wolves appear to be planning to name Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards as Vitor Pereira's permanent replacement.

He claimed that because we were organised and difficult to beat, "I felt we established a foothold in the game." "We failed to be clinical in our counterattacks during the first half.

"After the first goal, we improved with the ball and got more open. However, the rear door was ajar.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

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Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

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Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

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