THESE must be confusing times for Chelsea’s supporters. Their side continues to flatter to deceive with a series of uneven performances, like this one against a tough Newcastle United on Saturday night. However, victories keep coming.

A fine effort from Willian, the Brazilian winger, was the difference between these two sides after his explosive curling shot flew past Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to edge Chelsea ahead in this match. That goal just before the hour mark was to be the difference in this hard-fought encounter.

The win leaves Chelsea fourth in the Premier League, with a six-point gap opening up over rivals Arsenal.

However, this display from the west Londoners was unimpressive. Spanish winger Pedro had put Chelsea ahead with a neat lob early on and, from then, the expectation was that they would impose themselves on Newcastle.

They didn’t, allowing Newcastle’s Ciaran Clark to equalise just before the interval.

Maurizio Sarri’s frustration lies with his forward line. Against Rafael Benitez’s men, he deployed Eden Hazard in attack, a role in which the Belgian playmaker is rarely effective. However, the Chelsea manager’s options are limited. 

It took that goal on 57 minutes from Willian to separate the sides. Sarri’s assessment was honest, but, as ever, he is smart enough never to comment on boardroom matters.

“I’m really very happy with the result,” said the Chelsea manager. “We started well for 10 minutes but after the goal we thought it was easy and it wasn’t. We slept for 25 minutes and we were in trouble.

“It was better in the second half, but we need to improve in the mental reaction because after the first goal something happened. We stopped playing.”

Chelsea’s next match is a crucial trip to Arsenal on Saturday. Relegation-threatened Newcastle have a FA Cup replay this week against Blackburn tomorrow before the visit of Cardiff City on Saturday. 

Newcastle boss Benitez has frustrations of his own, with club owner Mike Ashley, with a potential sale preventing any player additions to the squad.

Asked about his feeling about current state of matters at the club, Benitez said: “Optimistic about the team? Yes. Optimistic about the other things [transfers]? I don’t talk about the other things.”

Meanwhile, Sarri was forced to speak out in his press conference against reports linking match winner Willian with a move away from Stamford Bridge, who is tipped to be on his way to Barcelona.

The player too denied any potential departure. “My future is here, at Chelsea,” he said. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”