Chelsea lost further ground as they were held to another disappointing draw against Brighton. It is very clear that Chelsea are no more in the title race. In fact Tuesday’s result firmly puts them in the top four race. The gap to Man City is already huge, and now a gap to Liverpool is also beginning to grow. Many will point to the recent defensive woes for this not-so recent slump, but the underlying issue is Chelsea’s attack.
Last season, Chelsea posted some dismal offensive stats despite finishing in the top four. £98 million were shelled out on Romelu Lukaku in order to better those numbers and solve the only weakness in the team. Unfortunately, Lukaku’s return is turning into a nightmare in barely half a season in. He is not getting the support he thrives on from his teammates and neither is he providing the support his teammates need to thrive. So why exactly this problem is emerging?
Too many changes, different players every week
Thomas Tuchel has perhaps not figured out his best line up. Every week he makes several changes and it disrupts the team’s chemistry. Players are unaware of each other’s movements and intentions, which is why many attacks break down in nascent stages. Take a look at Liverpool for example. They are a fluid, cohesive unit that work in tandem, carving defenses out with consummate ease.
That has been possible because Jurgen Klopp has been there for a few years and has found his formula. Those players have played with each other for 2-3 seasons and that’s why they are well aware of each other. In Chelsea’s case, lots of players came in the summer window of 2020 and few of them have settled yet. Tuchel needs to figure out his preferred attacking unit so that they can play regularly and figure out each other’s games.
Build up play is too slow
Chelsea’s build up play is far too slow to be lethal. Whether it is the extra defender that plays or the above reason, Chelsea take too long to transit from defense to attack. They are unable to hurt teams on the break and don’t necessarily open defenses up. The modus operandi almost always is to get the wing-backs high and get the ball in the box. Or, it is set-pieces.
Indeed, most of Chelsea’s goals come either from wide areas or corners. Ben Chilwell and Reece James were taking care of everything, but since their injuries, the same output from the wing-back position has failed to replicate that output.
Even when Chelsea desperately need a goal, they don’t force things. They just wait for opposition to get in position and then give it to their wing-backs, and that is usually the end of the attack.
Chelsea lack the movement of Man City, or the individual quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah of Liverpool. Even the likes of Brighton are quicker in transitions than Chelsea, who take forever to get the ball forward.
At times, Chelsea look a lost team that has run out of ideas and creativity. There’s no fluidity, no cohesion and no movement from the front-men or midfielders. Maybe it’s time for Tuchel to ditch the extra defender and put in another midfielder/attacker to have more options. The tactic of going again and again to wing-backs is simply not working, and you can’t rely on set-pieces to challenge for titles.