Three lessons learned in Chelsea’s preseason trip to Brighton

2. Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner did well, but also raised some questions

This is not to criticize either player because both of them did very well as individuals. Werner was all over the pitch and was a constant outlet for his teammates. Ziyech was calmness and coolness personified on the ball as he pulled the strings during his time on the field.

Instead, this is more about how their teammates reacted around the pair. These are not necessarily issues per se, but they are things to consider when the two are playing.

First Werner. Werner has traditionally played with a striker partner and he has usually been the more fluid of the pair. As a striker stayed central, he would roam to the flanks or deep to find space to spring attacks.

At Chelsea, he will not have that partner, though it is too soon to really guarantee that. In this match, Ruben Loftus-Cheek was nominally that partner. As Werner went wide, Loftus-Cheek would often push forward into the striker spots. But this would also be a task for Callum Hudson-Odoi or Hakim Ziyech as well depending on who else is playing.

Basically, as Werner roams to get involved in plays, someone has to be willing to step up and fill the gap. Without a true strike partner, that could realistically be anyone. If no one steps up, the Blues will have an empty box and it will be very difficult to score without an opponent’s defense pinned back.

Ziyech, meanwhile was playing wide with Reece James behind him. As the two built their way into the final third, it became pretty clear early on what would happen. Ziyech would cut in and James would overlap. Ziyech would then either pass into the center or thread a ball into James for a cross.

There is nothing wrong with that on paper, but it does become a circuit that the opponent can read and adapt to quite quickly. Ziyech’s secondary assist came from deep before this circuit began so it is not like he is a one trick pony. But it is something to consider especially when Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic start doing something on the other side.

Eventually, it might suit Ziyech better to be more central where his next move is not as obvious. That may depend on who else Chelsea brings in or keeps but it is worth consideration just to give him more variance.