Chelsea's Mauricio Pochettino sack decision aided with 'massive step' after huge transfer gamble

Progress.

With only 72 hours to prepare for the game – and the current injury situation – Chelsea would have been forgiven for starting a bit slowly against West Ham United. Fatigue, a factor that has affected Blues players on multiple occasions this season, was nowhere to be seen.

Football players are able to make the game require very little effort sometimes and that is what Chelsea did on Sunday. The Blues had complete control of the match with the Hammers from the first to last whistle at Stamford Bridge.

It wasn't just having control and possession for the sake of it either. Too many times in Mauricio Pochettino's debut season with the club we have seen this. Backwards and sideways passes too often, leading to nothing and achieving very little.

That, however, was not the case at all against West Ham. Forward passes, runs in behind, moving off the ball to create space for others. They are all very simple things but not things that Chelsea have done regularly this season.

In back-to-back games, though, in three days – which is crucial context as well – Chelsea have done this. In those two matches, they have controlled the tempo, the ball and chose when to pounce on the opposition. Progress.

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Chelsea have now climbed up to seventh-place in the Premier League table. Progress. Three games to go and they are all huge for the Blues who are desperate to return to European football next term for the financial gain if nothing else.

And for Pochettino, it perhaps means even more. The club will review the Argentine's position as head coach at the