Just five weeks after their triumph at the Club World Cup, Chelsea returned to competitive action at Stamford Bridge, greeted by celebratory banners. However, the anticipated momentum from their impressive 3-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain last month seemed to dissipate, as they delivered a rather lacklustre 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace. The scoreline was a fitting reflection of a surprisingly subdued performance from the Blues.
Various external factors likely contributed to Chelsea`s underwhelming display. Participation in the Club World Cup had significantly disrupted the European teams` preseason schedules. For instance, Enzo Maresca`s squad endured an eleven-month season, followed by a mere three weeks of rest and just thirteen days of preseason preparation before their encounter with Palace. In contrast, their opponents enjoyed a more conventional build-up. While Maresca dismissed claims of under-preparation, stating, “I don`t think [the team was unprepared] because, until the end, we competed. We tried to win the game,” the unique circumstances were hard to overlook. He acknowledged Palace`s more extensive match practice, adding, “For sure, [Palace] have already played seven, eight games… But for sure, slowly, slowly we`re going to be better.”
Match Details: West Ham vs. Chelsea
- Date: Friday, August 22
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: London Stadium — London, England
- TV: USA Network
- Stream: Fubo
- Odds: West Ham +390; Draw +300; Chelsea -145
Despite the initial stumble, Chelsea has a clear opportunity for improvement as they prepare to face West Ham United on Friday. A trip to the London Stadium presents an ideal chance to move past Sunday`s performance. Unlike Palace, who were defensively resolute and provided genuine hurdles for Chelsea`s attackers, the Hammers are expected to pose a different challenge. West Ham is coming off a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland, a result that might signal a difficult season ahead for a team that has seen minimal squad refreshment and appears to have a limited attacking threat.
Chelsea`s dominance in attack against Palace was evident, outshooting them 19 to 11 and generating significantly more expected goals. However, this performance was more about quantity than quality, with the Blues managing only three shots on target. This served as a stark reminder that, despite their recent Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League triumphs, Maresca`s Chelsea, while brimming with potential, remains largely an unknown entity as they seek consistency.
Maresca manages a large squad rich in attacking talent, yet he has not yet solidified his preferred combination. Given the constant desire of the ownership group to acquire new players, it`s understandable that the manager is still experimenting. Cole Palmer has certainly earned a regular starting spot, but the remaining attacking positions appear to be very much up for grabs, indicating intense competition for places.
The quest to define Chelsea`s first-choice attacking unit has been a consistent theme of Maresca`s tenure. The Club World Cup campaign offered crucial insights, particularly with the integration of new players. Liam Delap, who had attracted interest from various European clubs, initially started in the summer tournament. However, as Chelsea progressed towards the trophy, Joao Pedro entered the fray, joining mid-tournament and scoring three goals in three games, including one in the final. This impressive form earned him a starting role against Palace.
Joao Pedro led the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, flanked by Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Jamie Gittens on the wings. However, his individual returns were not spectacular, with just two shots in 73 minutes, echoing his average output during his time with Brighton and Hove Albion. This less-than-exciting outing for Chelsea might open the door for Delap to reclaim a starting position, while 18-year-old Estevao Willian could also play a significant role this season after his impactful 36-minute cameo on Sunday.
Consequently, Friday`s match against West Ham effectively serves as an unofficial audition for Chelsea`s aspiring attackers, all vying to help the Blues live up to the high expectations set by their successes last season and finally hit their stride in the Premier League.
