Chelsea bounced back in style after their opening day defeat to Burnley with a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.Marcos Alonso’s brace, either side of Michy Batshuayi’s own goal, handed Chelsea an important win that suggested the Blues aren’t in the sort of crisis that the media have portrayed them to be in.And this was a Chelsea side that didn’t include Eden Hazard, with the Belgian forward close to returning from an ankle injury.Much has been made about the size of Antonio Conte’s squad and while it presents a genuine concern, considering Chelsea’s fixture list will be added by Champions League matches, there’s no doubting the quality of his players.“I think I must be pleased,” Conte said after the win, per the Independent. “I want to thank my players. Every one. Because they showed me great desire, great spirit, great will, great heart, great will to fight.“I saw today the fighters. For sure, I saw a lot of positive things in a moment that's not easy for us with the suspensions and the injuries.“Don't forget Hazard stays out. Despite this, to play against Tottenham, away, and to win is a fantastic result.”
Courtois' classy gesture
The adulation among the Chelsea fans who packed into Wembley Stadium was clear for all to see and their respect was well appreciated by Thibaut Courtois, who made a young fan’s day even more special at full-time.
Spotting the youngster wearing a replica Chelsea goalkeeper’s shirt - presumably not close to being the most popular among shirt sales - Courtois handed the fan his own shirt.
Watch the video below.
It was a lovely gesture and very nice to see. No doubt that Courtois shirt will be hanging up in a frame inside that kid’s house.
Chelsea fans were quick to praise Courtois on Twitter.
Courtois: 'We needed a wake-up call'
The Belgian shot-stopper insisted after the match that Sunday served as a reminder that Chelsea need to try hard in every single match.
“We just started badly against Burnley,” Courtois said, per the Telegraph. “Maybe we needed as a group a little wake-up call to say ‘look, we need to give 150 per cent this year and not 100 per cent’.
“That’s what we gave against Tottenham and I think we did very well. You see that in the end we can win those difficult games.
“I remember two years ago we had to go to Manchester City and lost there, and it was a difficult start for us. Now, this victory is good.
“Next we play at home against Everton, who are doing well. We don’t have the easiest start, but this victory is good for the confidence, to continue the hard work we are doing in training.”
