A dramatic second-half turnaround in Naples saw Chelsea’s emerging squad book their place in the Champions League knockout stages, marking a significant milestone for the club’s new era.
Facing a 2-1 deficit at the interval against Napoli, the Londoners displayed considerable resilience to fight back and secure a 3-2 victory. The result guarantees a direct berth in the last 16, avoiding the uncertainty of a playoff round next month.
The manager highlighted the performance as a crucial learning experience for his group. He pointed to the character shown after a difficult first half, noting that the win also ended a long-running away drought for the club in the competition, a fact he described as a “great marker” for the team’s development.
Chelsea had taken an early lead from the penalty spot but found themselves behind by the break. The introduction of Cole Palmer at halftime proved transformative. The playmaker, managing his return from injury, was instrumental in creating the two goals for João Pedro that completed the comeback.
Regarding Palmer’s impactful substitute appearance, the coach was full of praise. He explained a pre-planned approach to manage the player’s fitness, acknowledging that a full start was not feasible. The decision paid dividends, with Palmer’s energy and quality in the second half singled out as “magnificent.” The focus now is on carefully managing his return to full sharpness to maximize his influence in the big matches ahead.
For Napoli, the defeat means an early exit from European competition, a disappointing conclusion to their group stage campaign. For Chelsea, the night served as a statement of intent from a young squad learning to thrive under pressure on the continent’s biggest stage.