Chelsea suffered an embarrassing and devastating loss at Molineux, but what are some of the lessons we learnt from the match?
Chelsea slumped to the type of emotionally punishing loss that seemed to be a running theme last season. While this is clearly a different side with better mental strength and character, these types of results are still an inevitability every once in a while. If nothing else, there are some important takeaways that can be put to good use going forward:
1. Chelsea needs to rest Timo Werner
This was arguably Timo Werner’s worst outing in a Chelsea shirt to date. Whether it was on the right in the first half or the left in the second, nothing was working for the German. Awful passing crept into his game to go along with the wretched finishing he’s displayed for well over a month now. In a game where Chelsea needed effective width to stretch Wolves’ back three, Werner did little to make life easier for Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic. As Chelsea pushed for a winner late in the match, Werner’s inability to contribute to the build-up play rendered the Blues’ entire left side inert, save for the occasional Ben Chilwell cross. It was truly dire stuff.
The good news is that Werner has made it clear that he’s a good player with the tools to succeed in the Premier League. Between his unbelievable pace, intelligent movement, and wide arsenal of finishes, he proved early on that the skills which made him a star in the Bundesliga will work just as well in across the channel. He’s not a flop, no matter how much the hot take artists push that narrative.
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What is equally clear, however, is that the overwhelmingly tight schedule and extreme physicality of the Premier League are conspiring to beat the life out of him. Werner leads Chelsea in minutes played, which is problematic for a few reasons. First off, having a forward lead a team in minutes played is rare, even under normal circumstances. Second, placing that workload on someone who is still adjusting to the physical rigors of the Premier League is unfair, bordering on dangerous. Add the cherry on top in the form of the crowded fixture list, courtesy of COVID, and you have a situation that feels like a punishment rather than an opportunity.
All of that being the case, it’s no wonder he’s shooting wide of the mark, over and under-hitting passes and failing to burst past defenders like he was in September. The impact of latter two issues is compounded by the fact that Lampard has seemingly settled on playing Werner exclusively as a winger. With flagging pace and sketchy passing, he’s offering essentially nothing as a wide player. Of course, that versatility was part of the appeal of bringing him in in the first place, but with Giroud and Tammy Abraham available as pure strikers, Werner has been shunted out wide for the foreseeable future.
Part of the issue is that Werner is clearly an exceptional athlete. Chelsea’s pool of out-and-out wingers is too small and too fragile, so a relatively consistent option like the German is a tantalizing thing for Lampard to rely on. That reliance, however, is getting dangerously close to endangering the health of the player, which in turn will submarine any chance for the team to regain the form it showed up until the Everton match. Tuesday was confirmation of this troubling trend.
Looking into the near future, it’s worth remembering that Werner is used to a full two-week winter break in the Bundesliga, something the Premier League recently adopted but has forgone in hopes of finishing the season on time in May. If Werner’s body is expecting that window for recovery, persisting with the constant deluge of minutes could really ruin him.
All of this is to say that Werner clearly needs a few matches off to rest, refocus and hopefully regain some semblance of good form as we head into the business end of the season. The dire performance against Wolves was undeniable proof that Werner’s body is starting to run out of even fumes to run on, and Lampard needs to pay attention and monitor one of his key players in order to have him available for the rest of the season. If Werner is absent until the new year, so be it. Chelsea will benefit from it in the long run.
2. Kai Havertz also needs some time off
There’s a theme here: Chelsea’s German imports are running out of gas. In many ways, the issues affecting Werner apply equally to Kai Havertz, whose dull performance against Wolves was the continuation of a worrying trend. Havertz’s problems, however, differ slightly from those impacting Werner’s production. Namely, Havertz looks like he still has yet to regain full fitness after a relatively severe bout with COVID-19.
While the effects of the virus are wide ranging and still not perfectly understood, a lasting sense of exhaustion seems to be fairly common, regardless of age or preexisting conditions. Havertz tested positive for the virus somewhere around the end of October and the beginning of November, finally returning to the field as a substitute against Stade Rennais on November 24. He has started all five of Chelsea’s matches in December so far, though he has yet to complete a full 90’. Against Wolves, he came off in the 71′, replaced by Mateo Kovacic. It was a merciful end to a brutal day.
A player’s health should always be a club’s top priority at any time, but that fact seems particularly poignant this season in particular. There is no reason to assume that Chelsea’s medical staff or management team are committing malpractice by declaring Havertz fit enough to play, but his performances suggest some lingering issues. Unlike Werner, Havertz doesn’t use his pace as a main means of beating defenders, instead opting to use good positioning and one-twos to create space for himself. That said, his role still requires plenty of running, whether he’s playing as a right winger or a right-side central midfielder, as he was against Wolves.
Prior to contracting COVID, Havertz was almost always taking up great positions near the top of the opponent’s box in attacking moves, while also recovering possession in his own box when necessary. Both aspects of his game have been missing in recent weeks, with Tuesday’s performance being a glaring example. Especially in a match where Reece James struggled, Havertz’s efforts on the right of midfield weren’t enough to cover for the fullback’s mistakes. The introduction of Kovacic in his place accentuated just how badly Havertz’s work rate was lacking.
Much like Werner, the best solution is simply a long period of rest, if only to simulate the winter break Havertz is used to enjoying in the Bundesliga. A bit of light fitness training wouldn’t hurt, but just taking off for two weeks might do the trick. From a medical perspective, one would hope that he’ll still be consistently evaluated for any long-term issues from the virus, one of the scariest of which could be myocarditis, a swelling of the heart muscle that has been found in some college athletes who have contracted the virus.
Regardless, Tuesday’s loss against Wolves showed that Havertz is still well off his best form, and a steady diet of minutes over the next few weeks likely isn’t the answer. Again, similar to Werner, it wouldn’t be the worst thing if Havertz’s next appearance came in 2021.
3. Frank Lampard got this one wrong
Lampard hasn’t had many bad mistakes in how he sets his teams up, but this one was a swing and a miss. Chelsea arguably lost this match on paper before it even began. The 4-3-3 has been the go-to formation this season, but Chelsea’s current lack of fit options on the wings meant a less than half fit Werner and a fit—but always questionable—Pulisic both playing the entire match. It was a high wire act that could have gone horribly awry, but both players made it to the final whistle in good health, although their performances were awful and ineffective, respectively.
In the midfield, Lampard had more options available, but still made a mistake by giving Havertz a second start in four days after an anonymous performance on the right wing against Everton. Kovacic or even Billy Gilmour would have been a better option. That might sound like the benefit of hindsight reigning supreme, but it’s been abundantly clear that Havertz just shouldn’t be out there at the moment.
The defense has turned into a far easier selection choice for Lampard, but the inclusion of James was debatable, as well. James had a testy and exhausting duel against Richarlison on Saturday, and that frustration and fatigue clearly carried over into this match. For all of James’ brilliant technical skill going forward, his work in defense varied wildly between lackadaisical and manic, neither of which were helpful.
Neto’s winning goal came straight down James’ flank while he was caught upfield trying to create an opportunity for his own side. As Neto sprinted forward and Zouma slid over to try and cover, James followed behind the play at something slower than a full sprint, which rendered him useless in the play. Maybe it’s naïve to say so, but go ahead and chalk it up to exhaustion more than laziness or disinterest. Regardless, Lampard should have seen James’ struggles and replaced him with Cesar Azpilicueta, either as a substitute or even as a starter.
All of those incorrect decisions led to the stodgy, unkempt and ultimately disastrous performance that was already going to feel like two points dropped before it became all three dropped. To make only one change with less than 72 hours between matches is pretty damning, and it feels like mismanagement given the strain every player is under as we enter the most compact part of an already tight season.
The one good thing, however, is that these tactical and selection implosions have been few and far between this season. Perhaps Lampard was surprised that Nuno Espirito Santo reverted his side back into its traditional 3-5-2, and was unable to adequately adapt mid-match. Perhaps he needs a mental holiday as badly as the players need a physical one. Whatever it is, something will need to happen to stem the sudden flow of poor performances. The law of averages says things will be just fine.
Chelsea is extremely fortunate to get a weirdly long layoff before West Ham visits next Monday, a break that should give everyone a chance to regroup and refocus. At this time of year, that’s an incredibly rare luxury.
Lampard is not a tactical mastermind or a team selection savant, at least at this point in his managerial career. His poor decisions proved to be the difference maker against Wolves. But he’s had more successes than failures this season, and Chelsea looks to be in good hands under his stewardship for the near future. That said, he needs to be focused and adaptable if he wants to be poised near the top of the table come the new year. On Tuesday, he lacked both of those characteristics, and Chelsea paid dearly. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t happen again any time soon.
4. Thiago Silva continues to be incredible
Chelsea’s back line may have been under fire for a good portion of the match, but things could have been much worse for the Blues if it wasn’t for timely interventions by Thiago Silva. Looking purely at the numbers, Silva was the only player to block a shot (2), was tied for most successful tackles (2) and most interceptions (2), while not registering a single foul. That’s a solid day at the office for a centerback, and the eye test only serves to strengthen the argument that Silva was, in fact, excellent, even in the face of a loss with two goals conceded.
One of those interceptions was a sliding effort as Wolves broke out on a counter, with Silva sprinting to cut out a diagonal ball that would have put Wolves in a prime position to score. Silva’s positioning and intelligence are one thing, but the wizened old veteran still has the physical tools to make the spectacular play when need be.
It would be fair to say that Silva didn’t do much to prevent Wolves’ winning goal in stoppage time, but a distinct lack of Ben Chilwell on the left as Adama Traore steamed down his flank left Silva trying to cut off a potential passing lane for Neto. Kurt Zouma did the right thing by showing the Portuguese onto his left foot and away from the goal, but the shot was simply too good.
The dirty truth is that, without Silva’s excellence as a player and as the general of the back line, Chelsea probably loses this match by a much uglier margin, such was Wolves’ domination at times. He is comfortably Chelsea’s most impactful signing of the season so far. It may be difficult to heap praise on a defender when the team lost and played poorly in general, but in this particular case, Silva still deserves credit for preventing what could have been a season-changing massacre.
What are some of the things you learned in the match? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!