It has been two matches for the reason that January switch window slammed shut, and after a 1-1 draw away to West Ham United on Saturday, Chelsea have but to win a match with their new look workforce. After now drawing their final three matches, stress on Graham Potter is rising with the outcomes not matching the workforce’s spending, although within the supervisor’s protection, a completely new assault was all the time prone to result in some struggles as all the brand new items get acquainted. The Blues’ lone purpose on Saturday got here from a hyperlink up between two new faces as Enzo Fernandez dinked a ball excessive of the protection for Joao Felix. And whereas the assault was a perform of latest items, the purpose conceded got here from the identical disorganized protection that has been a thorn in Chelsea’s aspect all season.
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It’s early in his Chelsea profession, however it’s clear why Chelsea pushed so arduous for Fernandez, breaking the switch document to get him from Benfica after a superb World Cup. He continued that kind by taking two pictures, successful a deal with, and getting two interceptions. It wasn’t his cleanest recreation as Fernandez was dribbled previous just a few instances however he seems to spring the assault every time that he acquired the ball at his feat finishing seven lengthy passes and aiding the opening purpose.
But the problem for Chelsea is that Fernandez cannot do all of it. The workforce dominated possession having the ball for 72% of the match however solely turned that into six pictures within the field. The Blues might’ve received the match if a penalty was given for Thomas Soucek’s handball late within the match however a workforce with this a lot expertise should not must hope for the referees to bail them out.
With new faces within the fold, Chelsea are starting to seem like a Potter workforce for higher or worse. While Potter’s time at Brighton was profitable, every match left you with the sensation that this workforce can be nice if solely that they had a correct striker. That has carried over to Chelsea the place Kai Havertz runs cold and hot, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has been frozen out of the squad, David Fofana is new and untested, and Armando Broja is out injured. Felix can play striker in a pinch however he and Havertz prefer to take up related positions.
Against West Ham, Havertz discovered himself with the ball at his toes in good positions to play Mykhaylo Murdryk or Noni Madueke into house however was usually caught between passing and taking pictures and as an alternative ended up getting dispossessed 4 instances because the Chelsea assault floor to a halt. Havertz is somebody who can shine in the fitting function for the Blues however it’s turning into more and more clear that that function is not main the road for a membership with Champions League aspirations.
It’s a problem that Potter has handled earlier than, discovering inventive options by using Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross at Brighton and even getting one of the best out of Danny Welbeck as a striker, however the lights are brighter and the stage is greater at Stamford Bridge. Currently, in ninth place, the workforce not solely must present progress with integrating these new gamers, however additionally they must progress additional into the Champions League.
A tie with Borussia Dortmund is approaching Wednesday (catch all of the motion on Paramount+), simply because the Black and Yellow have discovered their kind. It’s a workforce that may push Chelsea’s protection to their limits and so they’ve been shaky at greatest when challenged. Failure to make it previous the spherical of 16 within the Champions League would solely see Potter’s seat get hotter. Someone else might want to step up over the following week alongside Fernandez to make sure that does not occur.
