Azpilicueta gets Tuchel off the mark at Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel registered his first Premier League win as Chelsea head coach after a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Monday (AEDT).
Cesar Azpilicueta put the Blues ahead shortly before half-time with a crisp finish as Tuchel's side dominated proceedings, assuaging the frustrations of Thursday's (AEDT) 0-0 draw with Wolves.
Marcos Alonso added a second late on when he spectacularly hooked the ball home after being restored to the side.
Burnley offered little threat at the other end, with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy spared any attempt at his goal until deep into stoppage time.
Chelsea showed the early initiative as they directed much of their attacking play through the lively Hudson-Odoi.
Mason Mount lifted a shot over the crossbar as Chelsea registered five attempts in the first 15 minutes but without really testing Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Timo Werner got his feet into a tangle when the ball dropped for him in the box on the half-hour mark, while Marcos Alonso should have done better with a header from a promising position.
Chelsea's persistence was rewarded five minutes before half-time as Azpilicueta burst forward from defence to receive a pass on the overlap from Hudson-Odoi and strike an angled shot high into the net.
It was Azpilicueta's first goal in the Premier League since scoring against Arsenal in January 2020.
Tuchel replaced Tammy Abraham with Christian Pulisic at half-time as he moved Werner into a central position, but it was Hudson-Odoi who was the main threat.
The 20-year-old winger hit the post with a deflected shot and then shortly afterwards teased a low cross into the six-yard box which Pope kept out after James Tarkowski almost turned the ball into his own net.
Hudson-Odoi skimmed Erik Pieters again with 20 minutes left but Pulisic swept the ball wide from a good position, while Pope saved well from Reece James' low shot.
Alonso wrapped up the points six minutes from time when he controlled Pulisic's cross and acrobatically whipped the ball past Pope, with Burnley's only effort coming from Tarkowski's last-gasp header over the top.
