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Chelsea vs Real Madrid: 4 Key Takeaways

By Ayushman Basu

ANN ARBOR, MI - JULY 30: Eden Hazard of Chelsea takes the ball around Francisco Casilla of Real Madrid to score his second goal during the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Michigan Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - JULY 30: Eden Hazard of Chelsea takes the ball around Francisco Casilla of Real Madrid to score his second goal during the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Michigan Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI - JULY 30: Raphael Varane of Real Madrid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea in action during the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Michigan Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – JULY 30: Raphael Varane of Real Madrid and Ruben Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea in action during the 2016 International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Michigan Stadium on July 30, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /

3. Ruben-Loftus Cheek is not a forward

This is getting monotonous now.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Ruben Loftus-Cheek is not making it as a forward. Antonio Conte, throughout the friendlies, has been trying out this experiment. Yesterday removed any doubt that Loftus-Cheek’s partnership with Bertrand Traore is not an answer to Chelsea’s attack.

Loftus-Cheek, with his tall physique, gives the picture of a traditional English midfielder – one who will be pulling the strings from attacking midfield at best. There were stark differences between him and his striking partner Traore which showed what Loftus-Cheek lacks to be a forward.

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Traore has pace, can twist and turn in tight spaces and take a shot immediately. He can run in between defenders, and while he might not be the strongest at holding play, he does have the trickery in his feet to get past opposition.

Loftus-Cheek has not shown anything as of yet. Batshuayi’s substitution and his partnership with Traore in the second half should serve as an example, and more importantly a lesson, for Conte to finally end this experiment with Loftus-Cheek.

If he really has to experiment, do it with Eden Hazard. He gave enough reasons to be considered as a second striker with his brace in the second half.

Next: 4. Time for a change?

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