Just five weeks after lifting the Club World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium, Chelsea made their competitive return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Despite celebratory banners around the stadium, the Blues` performance was a stark contrast to their recent 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, ending in an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace – a result that accurately mirrored their play.
Several external factors appear to have significantly contributed to Chelsea`s lackluster display. The Club World Cup profoundly disrupted preseason preparations for European clubs that advanced deep into the tournament. For instance, Enzo Maresca`s team had 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 much more conventional preparation period. While Maresca maintained his team was not underprepared, the unusual circumstances were undeniable.
Maresca commented on his team`s readiness: “I don`t believe [the team was unprepared] because we competed right until the final whistle. We aimed to win the match, and I think we created some late opportunities with Estevao and Andrey Santos, which suggests our overall competitiveness was quite good. Naturally, Palace has already played seven or eight games. For us, last week involved two matches where we tried to distribute minutes, so today was our true competitive debut. But I`m confident we will gradually improve.”
Despite their struggles, Chelsea still have significant scope for improvement as they prepare to face West Ham United on Friday. This visit to the London Stadium presents an ideal chance to move past Sunday`s disappointing display. While Palace presented a well-organized defense, creating genuine difficulties for the Blues` attack, West Ham is unlikely to offer the same level of resistance. The Hammers recently suffered a 3-0 defeat against newly-promoted Sunderland, which might foreshadow a challenging season for a team that has not significantly strengthened its squad over the summer and has a limited attacking presence.
On Sunday, Chelsea undeniably demonstrated greater attacking dominance, outshooting Palace 19 to 11 and generating nearly a full expected goal more than their opponents. However, this performance leaned more towards quantity than quality; the Blues managed only three shots on target, which is far from ideal regardless of any preseason disturbances. This served as a clear reminder that despite their Club World Cup success and previous UEFA Europa Conference League victory, Maresca`s Chelsea, while possessing considerable potential, remains an unpredictable entity.
Maresca commands a large squad brimming with attacking talent, but he has yet to pinpoint his ideal combination. Given the circumstances – particularly an ownership group exceptionally keen on acquiring new players – it`s understandable that the manager hasn`t settled on a definitive lineup. While Cole Palmer has solidified his claim as a regular starter, the remaining attacking positions appear to be fiercely contested.
The ongoing challenge of defining Chelsea`s primary attacking unit has been a consistent theme throughout Maresca`s time at the club. However, the Club World Cup campaign adds crucial context due to the integration of several new players. Liam Delap, who opted for Chelsea over various European suitors, started the summer tournament, but by the time the Blues were eyeing the trophy, Joao Pedro had entered the fray. He joined the squad midway through the competition, scoring three goals in three appearances, including one in the final, which earned him a starting spot against Palace on Sunday.
Joao Pedro led the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation that also featured Palmer, alongside Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens on the flanks, but their contributions were not particularly impressive. Joao Pedro managed only two shots in 73 minutes, reminiscent of his modest output during his two years at Brighton and Hove Albion. This underwhelming performance for Chelsea, however, might pave the way for Delap to secure a starting position, while 18-year-old Estevao Willian could also play a significant role this season after his 36-minute substitute appearance on Sunday.
Consequently, Friday`s match against West Ham effectively serves as the unofficial start of auditions for Chelsea`s key attacking roles, with all contenders expected to help the Blues fulfill the high expectations set during the previous season.
