Just five weeks after clinching the Club World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium, Chelsea resumed their competitive season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with celebratory banners adorning their home ground. However, their earlier dominant 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain was followed by a lackluster 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, a result that accurately mirrored their uninspired performance.
Several external factors likely contributed significantly to Chelsea`s unimpressive display. The Club World Cup severely disrupted the preseason preparations for European clubs that advanced far in the tournament. For instance, Enzo Maresca`s squad endured an 11-month season, followed by only three weeks of rest and a mere 13 days of preseason training before their match against Palace. In contrast, their opponents had a conventional preparatory period. Although Maresca did not believe his team was underprepared, the unusual circumstances were undeniable.
Maresca stated, “I don`t believe the team was unprepared because we competed until the very end. We aimed to win, and we created late opportunities with Estevao and Andrey Santos, demonstrating a decent overall competitive effort.” He acknowledged that Palace had already played multiple games, while Chelsea had only participated in two matches the previous week, managing player minutes carefully. “Today was our first true game, but undoubtedly, we will improve gradually,” he added.
Despite the draw, Chelsea still needs significant improvement as they gear up to play West Ham United on Friday. The upcoming match at the London Stadium presents an ideal chance to move past Sunday`s uninspiring performance. While Crystal Palace showed strong defensive organization, posing challenges for Chelsea`s attack, West Ham is unlikely to present the same formidable barrier. The Hammers recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland, potentially signaling a difficult season for a team that has seen little squad refresh this summer and lacks a potent attacking force.
On Sunday, Chelsea clearly dominated offensively, registering 19 shots to Palace`s 11 and creating significantly more expected goals. However, this performance prioritized volume over precision; the Blues managed only three shots on target, a concerning statistic regardless of their disrupted preseason. This outing served as a stark reminder that despite their recent Club World Cup victory and prior UEFA Europa Conference League success, Maresca`s Chelsea, while possessing potential, remains an unpredictable team.
Maresca oversees an expansive squad brimming with attacking talent, yet he has not solidified his preferred offensive lineup. Given the context, particularly an ownership group exceptionally keen on new signings, it`s understandable that the manager is still refining his strategy. While Cole Palmer has established himself as a likely regular starter, other attacking positions appear to be keenly contested.
Determining Chelsea`s primary attacking combination has been a consistent challenge throughout Maresca`s time at the club. The Club World Cup campaign, however, provided crucial insights due to the integration of several new players. Liam Delap, who opted for Chelsea over other European clubs, began the summer tournament as a starter. Yet, as the Blues neared the trophy, Joao Pedro emerged, joining mid-tournament to score three goals in three matches, including one in the final, which secured him a starting spot against Palace on Sunday.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Joao Pedro led the attack, supported by Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Jamie Gittens on the flanks. However, his performance was unremarkable, yielding only two shots in 73 minutes, reminiscent of his modest output at Brighton and Hove Albion. This uninspired showing by Chelsea might create an opening for Delap to secure a starting position, while 18-year-old Estevao Willian could also play a significant role this season, following his 36-minute appearance on Sunday.
Consequently, Friday`s encounter against West Ham seems to mark the unofficial commencement of tryouts for Chelsea`s primary attacking roles. These players will be pivotal in helping the Blues fulfill the high expectations set during the previous season.
