Chelsea need some off-the-pitch “chemistry training” to build team spirit

After less-than-convincing performances by Chelsea in recent weeks, Antonio Conte should consider turning back the clock to restore some team magic. Perhaps some basic “chemistry training” is just the thing to bring this group together.

Chelsea drew against their bitter rivals Arsenal – again –  earlier this week. Although the Blues were the better side, they were unable to find the back of the net. Not too much went wrong with the team. Antonio Conte’s men did not have many problems on defence. In fact, Arsenal only came relatively close once or twice, never with any real threat.

But when it came to the offensive part of the game, the boys in blue could not find any rhythm. The only players who looked to have a chance of scoring were Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso. The passing between Danny Drinkwater, N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas in no way supported the attacking front. To top it all off, Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata seemed to be in separate dimensions with no communication.

So, what could be going wrong with the team’s attacking force? Does the team need the most basics of chemistry training to bring back their magic?

Chelsea should be producing far more than what they have in recent games. Alvaro Morata has proven to be an excellent striker. He is capable of scoring with his head, running off defenders and finishing alone. And in case he is unable to score, he opens up opportunities for the rest of the team.

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Eden Hazard is a brilliant player who can do practically anything with the ball at his feet. From dribbling past defenders and providing an assist, to simply humiliating every player and scoring wonder goals. Again, why is the offense not flourishing anymore?

One of the biggest factors Chelsea lack upfield is chemistry. The players are out of sync. The passing is not threatening enough in the final third of the pitch. The midfield, more often than not, has to find support with the back line rather than the wing-backs or forwards.

Up front, Morata and Hazard are not playing off each other anymore. Rather, the two are always apart and distant. While Hazard keeps drifting off to the wings, Morata is left alone with no one to pass. And when Morata drops too deep to receive the ball, he leaves Hazard marked out by three players.

As a result, neither player has been able to find the back of the net from an open play in recent games. At this point in the season, the team cannot afford to come up short on goals.

Communication between the supporting midfield and the two forwards is a critical aspect of a winning team. Therefore, it is time for the Blues to get back to the real basics of forming a partnership.

Since the dawn of football, one crucial aspect every manager / coach has always emphasized was the players’ relationship off the field. Such “guys’ night out” bonding could be a perfect start to finding a remedy. Even modern managers such as Jurgen Klopp believe this is as important as training itself. Surely Antonio Conte, with all his class and charisma, believes the same and this may be the ideal moment to encourage it.

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Chelsea play Leicester City on Saturday in the Premier League and Norwich on Wednesday in the FA Cup. This is a perfect chance to let the players embark on the rigorous training of “cracking open a cold one with the boys” and establish the connection off the field that can translate into goals and wins for the Blues.