A hat-trick from new guy Alvaro Morata helped the Blues to a 4-0 win over Stoke City, their third in succession away from home this season.
Antonio Conte’s side took the lead early after two minutes, Morata latching on to Cesar Azpilicueta’s long ball over the top and slipping it past goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Stoke gifted Chelsea a second when captain Darren Fletcher, trying to chest the ball back towards his own goal, set up Pedro, who drilled home.
A wonderful run from the halfway line from Morata, ending with a smart finish from an angle, gave Chelsea their third before the Spaniard completed his hat-trick from inside the six-yard box.
After the match Chelsea boss Antonio Conte did his usual presser and was asked a series of questions, here they are:
Morata, everything you wanted?
“I think Alvaro played very well and he scored three goals and for a striker that is very important. Don’t forget against Nottingham Forest the same happened with Batshuayi, it means we create chances for our striker to take.
“I am pleased for his performance and the performance of the team. It is not easy to win away at Stoke. The game is always difficult, I remember the game last season when we struggled a lot to win and we won at the end.
“Today we started very well and then we were very good to suffer. It was important to not lose our composure, to always stay in the game and in the second half we scored two goals and we created many chances to improve the final result. The final result was 4-0 but it was a difficult game.
Should Courtois have come off?
No, I don’t think so. I spoke to the doctor before the third and final substitution and I asked if he was okay, his answer was that he was okay and to make another substitution . Now the player is okay and is ready to play the next game in the Champions League.
Did you take Alonso off because of his yellow card?
“No, honestly it was a tactical substitution as they brought on Crouch. As you know, last season we suffered with him and I wanted to reinforce our defensive line with Cahill and to move Azpi as wing-back.
“It was only a tactical substitution. Also I think he never risked to take the second yellow card. I don’t want to underline another incident, but I think that the person who risked a lot was Crouch with a bad tackle. Alonso never risked the second yellow card.”
Crouch came on after, did you know he was coming on?
“I saw that Crouch was ready to come on, but I was prepared for this substitution. In my mind I thought if we were winning I knew for sure that we had to prepare for this substitution, this new situation. If you play with Jese you play in a different way. Crouch is a really strong player, I like him.”
The Chelsea fans chant
“Our fans were fantastic, they pushed us a lot, the team. In this stadium who push a lot, I want to thank our fans as they helped the team a lot today. It was a good change and I am pleased with the new chant.”
Club spokesman: “We have spoken to Alvaro after the game and he was grateful too for the change.”
If you missed the goals from the Chelsea v Stoke clash or wish to relive them, you can check them out here:
- Chelsea 1-0 Stoke City Morata Goal Video Highlight
- Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City Pedro Goal Video Highlight
- Chelsea 3-0 Stoke City Morata Goal Video Highlight
- Chelsea 4-0 Stoke City Morata Goal Video Highlight
More Chelsea and Premier League news, statistics and lists
Here is you need to know about Premier League news, statistics and lists
- Chelsea vs Stoke City Predictions
- Chelsea vs Stoke lineups
- Mark Lawrenson’s Chelsea vs Stoke Predictions
- Paul Merson’s Chelsea vs Stoke Predictions
- Chelsea vs Stoke City Live Stream
- Chelsea Player Salaries 2017
- Chelsea FC Squad 2017/18
- Chelsea Player Transfers List 2017
- Premier League Transfers 2017
- Chelsea FC and Premier  League
