Chelsea earned a point more than their last outing against Fulham but will still be disappointed in their attacking performance against the Cottagers as Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke made their debuts
Enzo Fernandez and Thiago Silva of Chelsea shake hands after the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Fulham FC (Image: Ryan Pierse)
football.london takes a look at the the talking points to arise for Chelsea’s draw with Fulham.
An impressive backline
While there has been plenty to criticise about Chelsea in the past six months, as the season goes on it is harder to ignore their defensive record. The Blues have conceded just 21 goals in as many Premier League matches and only the divisions top three sides in Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle have conceded fewer.
Often that has required spectacular individual performances, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s form earlier in the season is testament to that, while it’s not been uncommon for the west London side to look exposed or vulnerable. However, that is beginning to change.
Thiago Silva remains a goliath at the back, setting the standard and demanding more from his teammates in and out of possession of the ball. The Brazilian did not always look content with the positions his teammates were taking up as he brought the ball forward and was sure to direct Enzo Fernandez and Benoit Badiashile know as the trio dominated Chelsea’s possession.
The Chelsea veteran, who appears set to extend his deal which expires at the end of the season, might have found a match in Badiashile however. The 21-year-old Frenchman has started three matches in a row and seen three clean sheets while providing strong challenges, an aerial presence and a solid partnership with Silva. It’s disappointing that he has been unable to make Chelsea’s Champions League squad.
Fernandez already seems a worthwhile addition too as Chelsea’s spine added a layer of security that left Kepa Arrizabalaga untroubled for most of the match.
Time to gel?
“I’m confident with the potential that we have, with the ability that is in the group. What we need to do now is gel the team,” Graham Potter reflected following his side’s draw. Chelsea’s head coach was happy with his side’s endeavour if not their attacking fluidity.
To a degree it’s understandable, new players were starting, others returning from injury, Hakim Ziyech thought he had left the club just days ago, while others are simply out of form. In making his first Chelsea appearance, Noni Madueke became Chelsea’s 31st player to feature in the Premier League this term. In contrast, Arsenal are the only in team in Europe’s top five league to average fewer than one change per starting XI.
Chelsea’s head coach has a great deal of options following a busy transfer market and that has already proved evident with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lewis Hall missing out on Friday’s matchday squad. With Chelsea firmly in midtable and £600million spent that cannot last for long however and the players know it.
Kepa said following the game: “It was not an easy game. A lot of new players, it is not an excuse, we need to win. We need to win because we are in midtable, we want to be of course, in the top, we are working on that. We are knowing each other, it’s time to do it quick because we are in the middle of the season. Hopefully the new guys can help us, we can be a strong team and we have a lot of games until the end of the season.
“Well, we have to do it [gel. There’s not a long time to do it so we have to do it in the middle of the games. Players like Enzo, like Noni did very well today, they showed their quality, they showed what they can add, It’s time to build, time to know each other, it’s time to get together and to go back against next week.”
Time for a rest?
While there were positives to take away from the game, it was impossible not to see the struggles Chelsea did have to. Mason Mount, while he did provide Chelsea with one of their best opportunities of the match, could not help tie the team together often enough and too often wasted possession in decent positions. As new players bed in the England international could be due some time on the bench as he continues to struggle to find his best form.
What Chelsea are lacking in terms of attacking cohesion, Mount has so often been the one to provide in recent seasons when others failed. If the 24-year-old can find his form it will substantially help Chelsea’s threat and connection between midfield and attack. It’s a key area Chelsea are lacking and a problem Potter must look to solve with Mount.
One man who does not look like he will be afforded a rest is Kai Havertz in leading Chelsea’s line. With the absence of Aubameyang and David Datro Fofana from Chelsea’s Champions League squad, the Blues boss has made a commitment to the German international. Missed opportunities against Fulham will not do the player or coach any favours.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star looked more comfortable when he moved deeper against the Cottagers when Fofana entered the fray in the second period. The 20-year-old who arrived from Molde in January showed some promising flashes during his first Premier League start but will have been frustrated not to open his account when his shot was blocked by Tim Ream.
It does leave the question of what happens to Aubameyang for the remainder of the season. The ex-Arsenal striker did not make the squad to face Fulham and headed to Milan instead. Potter noted that his charge trained well following his disappointment and that he can still fit in Chelsea’s system. Though his defence of teams playing without a natural forward just 24 hours before suggests it may not be a natural one.
However, he is clearly out of the picture for the moment in a move that highlights a transfer failure from summer, with Aubameyang joining for a £12million fee on a two-year deal on deadline day before Thomas Tuchel was sacked shortly afterwards. The signs from the likes of Fernandez at least, are more positive.
source: www.football.london
