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Reasons why Chelsea can win the Premier League this season

By Ashish Thomas

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions as Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions as Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola elbow bumps with Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard after during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on June 25, 2020. – Cheslea won the match 2-1. Jurgen Klopp’s legendary status at Anfield was secured on Thursday as he became the first Liverpool manager to win a league title in 30 years. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola elbow bumps with Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard after during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on June 25, 2020. – Cheslea won the match 2-1. Jurgen Klopp’s legendary status at Anfield was secured on Thursday as he became the first Liverpool manager to win a league title in 30 years. (Photo by PAUL CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

4. Chelsea’s new City-like midfield

While the back five has a distinctive Liverpool vibe, the midfield make-up has a distinct Man City vibe to it. With N’Golo Kante as the deepest lying midfielder, a la Fernandinho, his safe passing to more talented players in front of him and his defensive doggedness make him ideal for this role.

Pep Guardiola’s City, more often than not, has employed two free No. 8s in front of the sitting midfielder. If you toggle that to Chelsea, the Blues have Mason Mount on the left and Kai Havertz or Mateo Kovacic on the right as the obvious choices for those roles. Mount is the most complete midfielder at the club in how he has many strings to his bow. He’s a great presser, he can pass very well, he has an eye for a goal and can get in amongst the opposing players. The Englishman also covers for whenever Chilwell bombs forward by slotting in as a nominal left back.

Havertz is so young that he can be bedded in over the course of the season as he is the type of player who will flourish in such a system. His main strength is his ability to push into the box and finish attacking movies. The German’s passing range is also very accomplished for a player his age. Kovacic proved in the game against Sheffield United that he can more than adequately fill in for Havertz, as well. Kovacic was very adventurous with his runs into the box in that match, which was a significant factor in the first goal in that game. His ball progression—dribbling/long passes—is also one of the best in the team.

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