A defeat on the final day of the 2020-21 Premier League season for Chelsea does not dampen the Blues’ journey into the Champions League campaign for the season to come.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were handed a 2-1 loss by Aston Villa but with Leicester City being defeated 4-2 by Spurs, the west London giants finish fourth in the league table just behind Liverpool.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
It was not the start Tuchel wanted from his players with the hosts suffering an early setback despite gaining ground on the attacking front and looking the better of the two teams.
Former Chelsea man Bertrand Traore gave Dean Smith’s Villians the lead after Chelsea had spurned a couple of chances through on goal which would have put them in the driver’s seat and consolidate their top-four chances.
With Liverpool and Leicester City both taking the lead in their respective matches, it was Chelsea at this point of time who were set to miss out on a top-four finish with the Blues sitting in fifth as the game at Villa Park stopped for the half-time break.
The visitors were handed a fresh blow just minutes into the commencement of play for the closing 45 with Aston Villa being awarded a penalty for a foul on the goal-getter Traore by Jorginho.
El Ghazi stepped up and made it 2-0 for the hosts who now seemed in control of the game and were seeking a third goal to put the match to bed and play spoilsport to Chelsea’s hopes of a higher finish in the Premier League ladder.
Chelsea did pull one back through Ben Chilwell but had skipper Cesar Azpilicuetta sent off in the closing moments of the weekend showdown in the Midlands but with Tottenham upping their game at the King Power Stadium and eventually claiming a win it was Tuchel’s Blues who stand assured of Champions League football for the next season.
