Willian brought Chelsea some much-needed good news this weekend, on the pitch and off.
Long since out of the title argument, a top-four finish suddenly at risk from Manchester United’s resurgence and trailing Tottenham at ‘half-time’ in their Carabao Cup semi-final and with no centre-forward to speak of, the Blues were also making a meal of beating relegation candidates Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil star scored the winner that papered over Chelsea’s goal-scoring crisis — then told the club he is ready to sign a new contract.
His superb goal got Maurizio Sarri’s team out of a hole on a turgid Saturday night, as they struggled to overcome a stubborn and well-organised visitors.
The Blues turned down a £50million bid for the forward from Barcelona on Thursday, which would have seen £38m winger Malcom come to London in exchange. While Barca are expected to come in with another bid, Willian pledged his future to the club.
The 30-year-old, who has 18 months left on his current deal, said: “My future is here. I have one-and-a-half years on my contract left, and I want to stay until it is finished.
“I don’t know if the club want me to sign a new contract, but my focus is here. I would like a new contract. If they want it, I want it. I have been here for five-and-a-half years, won a lot of titles. I am very happy.
“To play for Chelsea, you have to put your mind to winning titles every year.”
It was no easy ride against Newcastle, who have now slipped into the bottom three and look in real trouble unless owner Mike Ashley, to whom the fans sang “Get out of our club”, puts his hand in his pocket.
The hosts got off a great start as Pedro scored after eight minutes, but then fell asleep to allow Ciaran Clark to nod Rafa Benitez’s men level.
The lack of a goal-scorer was glaring – and Willian warned: “We started the game well, and then the team goes down, and that was the problem. We have to solve that. If you are a team that wants to win something, you have to play for 90 minutes with concentration and focus.”
David Luiz’s superb long ball was fastened onto by Pedro, who chipped Martin Dubravka. But Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez both missed good chances – and Clark, culpable for losing Pedro for the opener, redeemed himself by heading in Matt Ritchie’s corner.
Chelsea improved after the break, Eden Hazard laying the ball off to Willian, who curled a lovely shot into the far corner.
In the week that Cesc Fabregas departed for Monaco, Sarri admitted he would have taken off his talisman Jorginho, who was booed at one stage, if the Spaniard was still an option.
“He lost a lot of balls,” said Sarri of Jorginho, who played for him at Napoli. “If Fabregas was on the bench, he would have been on the pitch instead.”