Chelsea vice captain Ben Chilwell offered a brilliant reaction to a key moment in the 3-0 win against Luton Town on Friday night. The Blues cruised to victory as Mauricio Pochettino finally saw his players click on the pitch with Raheem Sterling leading the way.

The England international scored twice and set up Nicolas Jackson late in the game as he grabbed another Man of the Match award for Chelsea. “It was a bit of frustration from last season, for myself personally, because I felt like I was always coming with my back to goal,” Sterling said to Sky Sports reporters Kelly Cates, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after the game.

“[I was] a bit deep and I wasn’t giving myself enough chance to come towards the box and I had a conversation with the gaffer earlier, last week, and we went through the role and I know exactly what he needs from me. I need to get on the back foot and drive at players and get on it, and that’s when I’m most effective.

wise, I came in a difficult period. Excuses, that’s all finished. I’ve had a look at myself. I’m a person who always tries to look at what I’m doing, analyse myself and what I’m doing. I want to get back with being obsessed with football, football 24/7 – it’s as simple as that.

“As I said in the first game against Liverpool, I felt like I was inside the pocket too much and that was my feeling all of last season that I was too deep and I’d play the ball to the full-backs. We had a simple conversation and he said: ‘Raheem, it doesn’t matter where you play, if you apply it and you’re dynamic and aggressive, then nobody can stop you, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the left, right or centre – just be aggressive with the ball’. I have that desire and hunger to do that.”

Sterling may have had a hat-trick on another day and his Chelsea and England team-mate, Chilwell, had tried to help that become a reality against Luton – despite the defender having a clear look at goal. The left-back is known for being a clinical finisher in front of goal in recent years but his decision making may need some work after a strange choice during the clash against Luton.

Chilwell broke free and had the goal at his mercy from eight yards out – but he opted to try and pass to a marked Sterling in the penalty area instead. Spectators couldn’t believe what they had seen with Carragher questioning the decision live on commentary for Sky Sports.

Chilwell has since reacted to his decision in a post on social media, which read: “Absolute honour to lead the boys out tonight at the bridge. P.S. Shooting practise for me tomorrow!”

It may be a sign of the lack of confidence in the Chelsea squad still lingering from last season – but it’s clear Pochettino is helping to get the best out of players this term. Jackson and Sterling could become a deadly duo in attack, but the Blues want to add another versatile forward to help balance the team following Christopher Nkunku’s injury.