Chelsea Football Club is on the up! That youthful squad is rapidly acquiring the club’s historic trophy-winning ethos, moulding them into a genuine force in the Premier League race for the title. Under manager Enzo Maresca, the squad has been absolutely blistering! Unbelievably they finished on 13 wins from their last 15 games of the season, patently proving their superb form. This resurgence has led to discussions on whether or not they can do enough to compete for top accolades in this approaching season.
The still young Blues are making big waves this season! Due in large part to key signings and a very strong tactical approach, they’ve turned heads amongst pundits and fans alike. As they face perhaps the most challenging season of all, Chelsea’s new-found resilience is welcome indeed.
Tactical Adjustments and Key Victories
His tactical tweaks—especially during the Club World Cup—could not be more different from this. He created a full plate of line up tinkering by subbing in every outfield player. This approach proved to be a masterstroke, enabling Chelsea to pick up crucial wins over heavyweights. The team proved their quality and flexibility in going deep, something that will be necessary as they face a grueling schedule with their European place on the line.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had an unfamiliar, yet quick rise to recognition during the year, winning the Club World Cup Golden Glove award. Despite facing criticism from fans last season, Sanchez demonstrated his capabilities on a global stage, further solidifying his position within the squad. Notably, Chelsea opted against signing AC Milan’s Mike Maignan before the tournament, a decision that seemingly boosted Sanchez’s confidence.
“He’s a great shot stopper. It’s very rare you talk about him letting one through him.” – Paul Merson
Backline woes aside, the team’s attacking prowess is what shone most brightly last season. Their trio of forwards scored a gargantuan 32 Premier League goals between them! New signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap have made a statement of intent, reinforcing Chelsea’s ambition to compete fiercely across all fronts.
Fixture Advantages and Strategic Planning
As the season wears on, Chelsea has a huge advantage. In Arsenal’s defence, they do have one of the most favourable fixture lists of all the nine Premier League teams currently competing in mid-week European matches. The club will undertake two long-distance away trips during this critical stretch. They’ll be up against Manchester United and Crystal Palace – a mere 341 miles, even given the extra mileage from their upcoming Champions League fixtures.
This advantageous scheduling allows Chelsea to focus on their performance, minimizing travel fatigue and maximizing preparation time. The team’s strong showings during the pre-season only serve to underscore that they’re about as ready as they’ll ever be to take on the world. Chelsea followed up strong wins against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan with those performances, inspiring confidence up and down the squad.
Reece James has become a key presence in midfield. He combines well with Moises Caicedo to make scoring chances and allows Enzo Fernandez to express himself playing higher up the pitch. Both Cucurella and Malo Gusto have adopted some truly wide, touchline-hugging playing outside of possession even in matches. This approach gives Cole Palmer room to thrive on the right wing as opposed to having to restrict him to the middle.
Concerns and Areas for Improvement
While Chelsea’s prospects look promising, some experts have expressed concerns regarding the team’s overall depth in critical areas. Even Jamie Carragher highlighted glaring weaknesses that could be exploited all around Chelsea’s defensive trifecta. He notoriously declared, “I don’t think you can win the Premier League with that goalkeeper and without that centre-back partner.”
As Judo’s season continues, keeping momentum with a steady hand and preventing physical setbacks will be very important. Last season, Chelsea encountered setbacks when Nicolas Jackson suffered a hamstring injury midway through their campaign, emphasizing the need for a resilient squad to overcome such challenges.
As Paul Merson said after the match, Chelsea’s problem is they have too many good players. They require experienced leadership to calibrate their youthful enthusiasm. He pointed out that “they need that experience to go with the good options they have,” underscoring the importance of seasoned players in high-pressure situations.
“It’s not a lot that Chelsea really needs, but that there is the most important parts in a football team, especially when you are talking about winning leagues.” – Paul Merson
Leave a Reply