Observations from Chelsea’s solid, but dissatisfying, win over Fulham

Chelsea emerged with three points against a Fulham side, but a poignant point to make is the goals Chelsea left on the table. For some reason, the Blues side is still not able to destroy an opponent through the chances that are emerging early and often. After a Kai Havertz feather-like score early on, Chelsea created a number of chances that it couldn’t capitalize on in the first half against a solid—but not of the same quality—Fulham squad.

All that notwithstanding, only two magnificent saves by Edouard Mendy at the stroke of halftime kept the score from being Fulham 2-1 Chelsea. The goal frustration continues both for German Flash Timo Werner and for Chelsea’s Moroccan Magician, Hakim Ziyech. Both were all over the pitch on Saturday influencing events. Yet, for Werner, the goal-scoring frustration continues. For some reason, he just can’t seem to find the back of the net, many opportunities of varying degrees of difficulty or lack thereof notwithstanding.

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Chelsea had many great looks at the Fulham goal, but also a plethora of misses.

As a big Werner fan, it leaves some with their heads in their hands seeking some reason for his inexplicable inability to finish. The striker’s forte is still scoring goals. Those are still coming few and far between for the German as miss after miss eventuates. It is often due to a teammate not providing the perfectly timed pass or just misfiring on the chances he gets. Yet, conversely, he continues to shine in the attack nonetheless. He’s done great work. He’s leading the side in goal involvements and that’s no accident. On Saturday, his passing was stellar, including a wonderfully threaded pass to Havertz to give his compatriot his brace and Werner’s seventh Premier League assist.

On one attack in the first half, he blazed down the right side and instead of firing away from a bad angle, dropped a sitter onto the feet of Ziyech, who proceeded to miss the perfect set-up to put Chelsea up 2-0. It would’ve essentially put the game away right then and there. Instead, the Blues allowed Fulham to hang around, creating their own chances and threatening to turn what should have been an easy multi-goal win into, per usual, another nail-biter for Chelsea fans in the first half. Yet, it’s not all bad for Werner, not at all. He’s a threat all over the pitch to break through onto goal and put away chances or provide them to his teammates. As for the goals, they are just a matter of time.

That’s some semi-depressing news, but what about all the positives—there were many.

First, as has been suggested in these pages previously, Mason Mount was inserted into the midfield as a dual No. 6 in a pivot along with Billy Gilmour, who played well and demonstrated that he belongs. In this one, Mount did what was previously expected, transforming that defensive position with his pace and attacking flair into a multi-role position. Thereby, creating not only excellent chances for his teammates with his blistering pace, but also doing the defensive dirty-work with his almost unequaled work rate. It was a brilliant performance and Mount fully expressed what a hybrid attacking and defending No. 6 can do to energize the attack’s productivity while still attending to his defensive duties. A magnificent performance, indeed.

Also, former critics of Havertz have to be crying in their best bitter as the young German continues to shine after finally seeming to be over his tough bout with COVID-19. The skills, the finesse and the evident footballing acumen were on full display. Havertz had a splendid performance and he’s only beginning his journey to wins and titles with Chelsea, hopefully for many, many more years to come.

The front three of Havertz, Werner and Ziyech, all new this season, all challenged by the circumstances and the times of their arrivals, are all now showing why the Blues’ transfer business last summer was actually simply brilliant. It is evident that the new players are now just scratching the surface of the great football and success that they will bring to Chelsea, not only during the rest of this season, but further into the future, as well.

Now, we’re onto the second leg of the Champions League semis and then the FA Cup final. How about winning those two trophies to get the silverware flowing once again? You just never know. This side now seems capable of doing just about anything. It’s a great time to be a Chelsea fan.