Just five weeks after their triumph at the Club World Cup, Chelsea FC returned to competitive action at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Despite celebratory banners adorning the stadium in honor of their recent victory, the team`s performance was not as brilliant as anticipated. Instead of the convincing 3-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain showcased last month, the Blues settled for a sluggish 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace, a scoreline that accurately reflected their rather uninspired display.
External circumstances likely contributed to Chelsea`s disappointing result last Sunday. Participation in the Club World Cup significantly disrupted the preseason schedules of European teams that progressed deep into the tournament. For instance, Enzo Maresca`s squad played an 11-month season, had only a three-week break, and just 13 days of preseason preparation before facing Palace, unlike their opponent who underwent a traditional buildup. While Maresca didn`t admit his team was underprepared, these factors were impossible to ignore.
Maresca himself stated: “I don`t think the team was unprepared, because we fought until the very end. We tried to win the game, and we had chances late on thanks to Estevao and Andrey Santos. This shows that, overall, we competed quite well. Of course, Palace has already played seven or eight games, and we only played two last week, trying to distribute minutes evenly. So, today`s match was our real test. But, undoubtedly, we will gradually improve and play better.”
Upcoming Match: West Ham vs. Chelsea – Key Information
- Date: Friday, August 22 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Venue: London Stadium – London, England
- TV: USA Network
- Odds: West Ham +390; Draw +300; Chelsea -145
Nevertheless, Chelsea still has significant room for improvement as they prepare for Friday`s match against West Ham United. The trip to London Stadium offers an excellent opportunity to put Sunday`s disappointing performance behind them. While Palace showcased an organized defense and significantly hindered the Blues` attacks, the Hammers are unlikely to pose the same challenge. West Ham recently suffered a 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Sunderland, which could indicate a difficult season ahead for a team that hasn`t made many summer reinforcements and lacks attacking threat.
In Sunday`s match, Chelsea clearly dominated in attack, taking 19 shots against Palace`s 11 and generating almost a full expected goal more. However, this performance was more about quantity than quality – the Blues managed only three shots on target, which is far from ideal, even considering preseason disruptions. This served as a stark reminder: despite their Club World Cup triumph and the preceding UEFA Europa Conference League victory, Maresca`s Chelsea, while possessing great potential, remains a team with many unanswered questions.
Maresca manages an inflated squad, abundant with attacking players, but has yet to find the optimal combination. In light of the circumstances – particularly, the ownership group`s unusual eagerness to sign new players – it`s entirely understandable that the coach hasn`t yet `cracked the code` for his ideal attack. Cole Palmer has proven his right to a starting spot, but the remaining positions, it seems, are still up for grabs.
The quest to define Chelsea`s first-choice attacking unit has been a constant challenge for Maresca since his arrival at the club. However, the Club World Cup run added new context with the introduction of several new players. For instance, Liam Delap, who chose Chelsea despite interest from various European clubs, was a starter at the beginning of the summer tournament. But by the time the trophy was within the Blues` grasp, Joao Pedro had become actively involved. He joined the team midway through the tournament, scored three goals in three games, including one in the final, and subsequently earned a starting spot in Sunday`s match against Palace.
Joao Pedro led the attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Jamie Gittens operating on the wings, but their output was not impressive. In 73 minutes, Joao Pedro managed only two shots, reminiscent of his average returns during his two years with Brighton. However, this less-than-inspiring performance from Chelsea might open the door for Delap to earn a starting role, and 18-year-old Estevao Willian, who played 36 minutes on Sunday, could also feature significantly this season.
Consequently, Friday`s match against West Ham appears to be the unofficial start of `auditions` for Chelsea`s attacking players, all of whom will be tasked with living up to the high expectations built around the team last season.
