Chelsea: Blues’ attack will cause trouble for opponents next season
Chelsea’s front line spells trouble for Premier League foes as the restructured attack will deliver goals aplenty for the Blues next year.
Chelsea is on the verge of completing a transfer window that will deliver a so-called ‘formidable five’ in attack next season. Last year, the club was unable to convert many opportunities to score as chance after chance was squandered by the Blues due to poor finishing. The recent and impending acquisitions by the Blues will remedy that situation in 2020/21, and there is also strength in depth to augment that firepower.
Christian Pulisic—a.k.a Captain America—is the most prolific non-striker returning to the club next season. Pulisic began his Chelsea career in a rather upsetting fashion as injuries and acclimation issues restricted his development early on. The pandemic suspension seemed to provide an opportunity to review his performance. After adopting a new and more direct strategy—perhaps after evaluating his first few months at Chelsea back in Hershey, Pennsylvania—Pulisic returned a new player.
His latest attacking play was welcomed by manager Frank Lampard as the American helped carry his team to Champions League qualification with his dominating restyle. Pulisic delivered 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions for Chelsea during an injury-riddled 2019/20 season. Along with a rejuvenated Willian and a then utilized Olivier Giroud, the trio led Chelsea to UCL qualification. A major achievement for both the club and its first-year manager.
The second peg of the five-spoke wheel for Chelsea next season is the emerging midfield star, Mason Mount. Mount delivered a strong season for the Blues after playing a big role for Lampard at Derby County the previous season. Mount bagged seven goals and five assists last year for Chelsea and is poised to rack up double-digit goals for the club next season. His best position is attacking midfielder in a double eight configuration, giving maximum thrust to Lampard’s attacking style. Yet, Mount’s work rate will also be key in providing support to N’Golo Kante or his substitute in defensive midfield. He’s really a jack of all trades for the gaffer.
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The next three key attackers are all new to Chelsea. First, there is Hakim Ziyech. The Morrocan national team player is a magician with the ball at his feet possessing amazing abilities to pass, cross and even score himself. He’s a complete player and will add a dimension to Chelsea that it didn’t have given Eden Hazard’s departure, but the Blues will have those skills in abundance in the next season. Ziyech scored eight goals and 16 assists in all competitions for Ajax last season, including a masterpiece in the wildly entertaining 4-4 draw versus Chelsea in the Champions League. He’s a star and added to the other attacking players on the roster, Ziyech is a nightmare for opposing managers to plan for.
Next is the mega goalscorer from the Bundesliga, Timo Werner. An amazing addition to the Blues, Werner set the Bundesliga on fire as he rivaled Robert Lewandowski for the Golden Boot. Werner scored an amazing 34 goals and 13 assists in all competitions while notching 28 and eight in his domestic league. He’s a dynamic finisher with incredible pace who can play both as a striker and on the left wing with equal efficiency and scoring proficiency. The Blues had major problems last season in finishing; Werner gives them a tremendous scorer who will undoubtedly be the game changer the Blues missed previously.
The final piece in the Chelsea puzzle is the most recent addition to the deep attacking arsenal—Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen. Havertz is a spectacle to behold when the ball is at his feet. His sublime passing is a masterpiece of perception and he demands attention from spectators; he turns heads of football fans around the globe. In addition, Havertz adds a tall frame, something sorely lacking at Chelsea, and the ability to score when the opportunity presents itself. Perhaps the best compliment one can give him is the fact the youngster often creates something out of nothing. Havertz racked up 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions during the previous campaign. These statistics demonstrate not only his passing proficiency, but his finishing ability, as well—a devastating combination in the attack.
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These are the top five attackers for Chelsea going into the next campaign. These attackers—added to the greatly talented Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud and Callum Hudson-Odoi—will provide the Blues with unmistakable power in front of goal. The Blues’ newfound strength will be the bane of many Premier League opponents, surely.