Mohammed Kudus recently shared his admiration for one of Chelsea’s standout players after the Blues’ commanding 3-0 win over West Ham United.
Chelsea’s attacking display during the match was nothing short of impressive, with Nicolas Jackson playing a crucial role.
Jackson got the scoring underway early in the match, seizing on West Ham’s defensive lapses.
Pundit Michael Dawson, speaking on *Soccer Saturday*, harshly criticized West Ham’s defense, describing it as “criminal” for allowing Jackson to break through so easily.
After a swift exchange of passes with Jadon Sancho, Jackson surged forward unchallenged and found the back of the net from a difficult angle, beating West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and giving Chelsea the early advantage.
West Ham’s defensive issues did not end there. Shortly after Jackson’s first goal, the Hammers lost focus once again, leaving space for Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo to deliver a perfectly timed through ball to Jackson.
The forward calmly raced toward goal and added a second, confidently finishing past Areola to leave West Ham reeling.
Despite their attempts to fight back, West Ham couldn’t recover.
A controversial moment occurred when VAR reviewed a possible penalty after Wesley Fofana appeared to pull on Crysencio Summerville’s shirt, but the officials ultimately ruled that the incident did not meet the criteria for “sustained holding,” leaving West Ham frustrated and without a penalty.
Any hopes West Ham had of staging a comeback were crushed shortly after the second half began.
Chelsea’s counter-attacking play continued to dismantle West Ham’s defense, with Jackson this time playing the role of provider. I
n a quick and fluid attacking move, Jackson set up Cole Palmer, who finished with power to seal Chelsea’s victory.
The Blues’ ability to execute swift and precise counter-attacks left West Ham chasing the game, as Chelsea dominated all aspects of play.
Despite West Ham’s loss, Mohammed Kudus, who was arguably their best performer, spoke highly of Chelsea’s left-back Marc Cucurella after the match.
Kudus had a series of tough duels with Cucurella throughout the game and openly praised the Spaniard’s strength and persistence.
During a post-match interview, Kudus acknowledged Cucurella’s outstanding performance, highlighting how difficult it was to get past him in one-on-one situations.
“He plays very well; it’s hard to beat him one-on-one. He was on me the whole game,” Kudus said, according to *Chelsea247*.
He reflected on the numerous battles he had with Cucurella, particularly noting one tackle in the second half that was especially challenging.
Kudus’ honest appreciation for Cucurella’s performance underscores the intensity of the competition in the Premier League, where even in defeat, top players recognize the quality of their opponents.
Kudus’ comments not only highlight his respect for Cucurella but also shine a light on Chelsea’s growing defensive stability under their current management.
While much attention is often given to Chelsea’s attacking play, performances like Cucurella’s demonstrate that the team’s success is also built on a solid foundation of defensive resilience.
For Kudus, facing a defender as formidable as Cucurella was a tough experience, but he still managed to stand out as one of West Ham’s better players, showcasing his individual talent despite his team’s struggles.
In the end, Chelsea’s dominant performance, from Jackson’s clinical finishing to Cucurella’s dogged defensive work, showed a team growing in confidence and cohesion.
For West Ham, while the result was undoubtedly disappointing, the match offered some positive takeaways, particularly in Kudus’ strong individual display, which earned him respect even in a losing effort against a formidable Chelsea side.
