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Raheem Sterling ignited Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea reign as Luton Town were beaten 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Friday Night Football.
After failing to win his opening two Premier League games as Blues head coach, Pochettino secured his first competitive victory since his summer appointment as Sterling sparkled to continue his fine form at the start of the new season.
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Sterling as the winger picked up the ball from the right-hand side before driving at the Luton defence and finishing superbly.
The hosts extended their lead through Sterling in the 68th minute as he got on the end of an inch-perfect cross from Malo Gusto before stroking his effort home.
There was further misery for Luton in the 75th minute through Nicolas Jackson as the Senegal striker lurked at the back post and got on the end of Sterling’s driven cross to tap in his first goal for the club.
Pochettino said: “I’m really pleased. It was a solid performance. I am happy because the first victory is always very important, to provide the team with the confidence and trust in the way we are doing things.”
On Sterling’s performance, he added: “He played with freedom on the pitch, we know what he is capable of. On the wing, inside, between the lines, in the pocket, he has the quality to play many places and the he had quality to run and finish.
“We are pleased for him, he needs to keep going and contribute more goals and assists to help the team to win.”
Pochettino had warned his Chelsea players that Luton would get the better of them if they failed to match the desire to win of Rob Edwards’ newly promoted side.
Chelsea were seeking a first win under his tenure following a draw and a defeat in his first two games in charge and grappling with the problem of integrating a flux of summer recruits.
Defeat to the Hatters, who last won in the league at Stamford Bridge in 1986 and are yet to pick up a point in their debut Premier League season, would have added to the noise surrounding Pochettino’s Chelsea rebuild, with the club having spent more than £350m on nine new signings so far this summer.
It was near the end of the transfer window last season that former manager Thomas Tuchel talked of there being “a curse” on Chelsea’s number nine shirt, such has been the club’s lack of success with strikers in recent seasons – but Sterling looks in the mood to take on the responsibility.
SkySports
