Mark Noble has revealed how three words from manager Manuel Pellegrini sorted things out against Everton last weekend,
The captain explained in his London Evening Standard column he said: “What pleased me most was the way we reacted in the second half after Everton scored to make it 2-1 right on half-time.
We had played well in the first 45 minutes and the manager said, “Relax, calm down” and told us to keep playing the way we had been – and we did that.”
Nobes was also pleased with the personnel in the middle of the park saying: ” I felt we had a real firm base in midfield with myself, Pedro Obiang and Declan Rice. We knew our jobs.
Against Everton, though, we felt like a team, with Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson defending at the back post, in addition to great stuff going forward. That’s how you have to play in the Premier League.
” I got kicked by one of their defenders and was on the ground appealing for a free-kick, even as Andriy scored a great goal. It was a brilliant decision by the ref, Martin Atkinson, to allow play to go on!”
Of Sunday’s game he said: We’re looking forward to playing Chelsea, the form team in the Premier League with the form player, Eden Hazard.
I’ve read some suggestions he is the best player in Europe. He’s certainly one of them, but I watched Barcelona during the week, where Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick.
But Eden is one of the best I’ve played against. He’s so strong, so quick, he’s sharp in the mind and he can often do whatever he wants to do, despite all your efforts to try to stop him.
One thing that is a shame is that when Eden is in the side, Ross Barkley obviously has fewer chances — you always want to see a good, young English player in Chelsea’s team.
How do we approach Sunday’s game, though? With a lot more confidence, a lot more belief, if I’m honest. We know, though, we have to play well because if you don’t, against a team like Chelsea, there’s every chance you’ll be beaten convincingly.
