Chelsea: Three lessons learnt against Aston Villa on league’s return

2. Chelsea’s defensive woes continue

Despite having up to 74% of possession at one point in the first half, Chelsea was once again almost made to pay for their collective failure to take their chances. Kortney Hause popped up at the back post to scramble the ball home just before the break following yet more poor defending from a set piece. In fact, up to four Villa players were lined up within the six yard box, ready to tap the ball in from Arrizabalaga’s save.

This, coming after long periods of good, sustained possession from Chelsea was certainly a hard one to take. Nonetheless, it was arguably no less than what the Blues deserved having been caught napping at the back once more.

Aston Villa would come close in the second period through Hause yet again when he glanced the ball just over from another dangerous set piece delivery and it is evident that defense remains the key concern for Frank Lampard’s team. Be it Christensen’s struggles with his concentration levels or the fact that Rudiger does have the occasional mistake in him, Chelsea’s defense could be the Achilles’ heel that derails their top four ambitions this season.

As the matches start to pile up and match fitness improves, it is imperative that such mistakes be avoided if Chelsea want to remain genuine contenders for Champions League action next season.