Chelsea were shaken to the core when Karim Benzema ran riot at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. Real Madrid handed the world champions a rude-awakening and, with a second successive loss under the Blues' belts after they were also beaten at home by Brentford, Thomas Tuchel's side edged closer to making notching a third for the first time in twenty years.
Though, in spectacular fashion, the west Londoners bounced back and roared into back into form with a six-goal demolition of Southampton. Marcos Alonso opened the scoring for Tuchel's side and, momentarily, Mason Mount doubled Chelsea's lead at St Mary's. Timo Werner threw his hat in the ring five minutes later before Havertz then netted the west Londoners' fourth blow of the bout.
Goals continued to flood the south coast as Werner chalked his second of the afternoon inside a few minutes of the restart. Mount then netted the Blues' sixth of the afternoon before Ralph Hasenhuttl finally reined in his troops and shut up shop.
READ MORE: Every word Thomas Tuchel said on Southampton vs Chelsea, Azpilicueta, Werner, Lukaku and more
Speaking in the post-match press conference, Tuchel stressed the importance of Chelsea getting back on track. The German boss detailed the adversity that his side have faced lately.
He said: "It was necessary that turned things around, but we came from a long streak of winning and then we had the international break. Then we had five days where things don't feel the same as before. So it wasn't a huge turnaround, it wasn't necessary to change everything.
"But it was the moment for us – or I had the feeling – that it was the moment to tell the group the truth, give my honest opinion, and tell them as a part of the group this is how I feel. So the message was clear and obviously, everybody took it in the right way, I included myself in the message and so it was necessary to step up today.
"It is on the players to live up to what we play and they did it in an impressive manner today. So it's now a time to move on because we've re-found what makes us strong and it was another proof of that and we keep on going."
And, as they do with every game, the UK's national media have been reacting to Chelsea's imperious win. The Guardian said: "As reactions go, this was rather comprehensive.
"Chelsea were purring from the moment Werner rattled a post on three minutes after taking aim from just inside the area and by the time Alonso drilled in the opener five minutes later, Werner had made another blemish on the frame of the Southampton goal, stooping to somehow head Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s ball against the crossbar from inside the six-yard box. Mount was Chelsea’s chief tormentor and on another day Werner would have departed with the match ball. Alonso came closest to adding a seventh but thrashed wide."
The Express said: "Chelsea may have invested heavily on attacking talent, but Mount is the perfect example of how the academy can be utilised, as well as the loan system. Mount has proved that he can be the man for the big occasions, and if Chelsea are to overturn their two-goal deficit against Real Madrid, he will have to be at his best."
And, the Mirror said: "Another benefit of the scoreline came at the break. Chelsea were so far out of sight that they were able to withdraw Kai Havertz at half-time and wrap him in cotton wool, while the same happened with Thiago Silva and Mason Mount shortly after the hour mark.
"Tuchel admitted the Blues would suffer European elimination if they put in another performance like the one against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. However, there may now be the faintest glimmer of hope."
