Chelsea: Best possible XI after spending in the summer window
Right winger: Hakim Ziyech
He was acquired to add flair to the Chelsea attack. He is a magician on the ball, our magician. The choice at right forward is Ziyech and frankly, it isn’t close. Ziyech was the first acquisition in Chelsea’s reconstruction under Lampard; he adds amazing crossing ability and tremendous on the ball proficiency. In addition, he has a good finishing ability. Ziyech does it all and for that reason, he was a masterful transfer acquisition.
Striker: Timo Werner
One of the final positions in this dramatically updated—and without question, improved—Chelsea starting line-up is an amazingly prolific scorer from the Bundesliga. Werner, absent the truly other-worldly Robert Lewandowski, was the top striker in that league. He notched 28 goals and eight assists in 34 Bundesliga appearances last season; those numbers speak for themselves. He’s the superlative finisher that the club has looked for, although Tammy Abraham has great potential to provide that talent to the club in the future, as well. But right now, Werner is the finished product. In addition, the Blues have the always reliable Olivier Giroud to fill in as needed with quality and goals.
Left winger: Christian Pulisic
No one has claimed this position other than Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic. Pulisic started slowly for the Blues last season and then was felled by injury prior to the suspension of the league. After returning, however, he demonstrated a new and more direct style that maximized his pace and attacking flair. Rather than looking for the pass first, he looked to attack the goal and shoot. It paid off for the club and for Pulisic as the American solidified his place in the starting XI. Hopefully he can put his muscle injuries behind him and if he does, expect double-digit goal production from the budding superstar next season.
That’s a prospective starting XI for the Blues in 20/21. It’s an imposing attacking group and one that also has a back line that would almost certainly lessen goals against. There can be a debate about which is more important from now until the cows come home, attack or defense, but one thing is certain: you can’t win without scoring more goals than the other side.
Next. Chelsea: Spending spree is setting Lampard up for success and failure. dark
This line-up would strengthen the front, the back and the keeper spots. It’s all better going forward and there is strength in depth, as well. Hopefully all of these pieces are assembled in a month’s time and then, it’s on to a lot more wins moving forward.