The younger generation won’t remember the old calls of “1-0, Chelsea” game after game after game. Jose Mourinho’s side was a juggernaut of getting the goal and grinding it out. Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea has been the second coming of that idea. The Blues may struggle to score, but they can certainly grind it out if they just get that one goal needed to win.
The first half wasn’t bad. Brentford didn’t yield to the Blues, but Chelsea did manage to keep most of the possession and control of the match. It was a loose control though as Brentford always looked capable on the break. The biggest hang up was the front two, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, often finding themselves short of support. Werner would roam deep and wide, but that only left Lukaku more isolated.
The goal would eventually come from Ben Chilwell’s venomous volley. The left wingback found himself central often as little to nothing was being put wide by Chelsea. So, he simply went where the game was and got the goal the Blues needed to win.
That, unfortunately, isn’t the full story. The second half was a train wreck. Brentford again proved themselves more than worthy contenders for staying in the Premier League as each chance gave them more and more drive forward. Were it not for Edouard Mendy quite literally standing on his head and using telepathy, the Blues wouldn’t have won that match.
Listen, a win is a win and we’ve been here before this very season. But the Manchester City and Juventus losses didn’t happen in isolation. They happened after several weeks of deteriorating form (especially in the final third) and the defense being less than perfect on two separate days. In the grand scheme of things, Chelsea’s top of the league and 1-0 Chelsea is more than enough to stay there for a while. The problem is that the second half very much didn’t look like a team that’s going to hold on, week after week.
Tuchel’s fixed the defensive issues. But offense remains an issue. So does staying on top of a game. These aren’t issues that started with Tuchel by any means. Arguably, the Blues have struggled with both since 2014 with only occasionally blips showing otherwise. Brentford should be disappointed they didn’t leave with a point. They honestly should be disappointed they aren’t getting three.
Chelsea was top last year too, under Frank Lampard, before everything came to a head and the big December/January collapse happened. Are the Blues trending towards something similar? If so, why does this keep happening? And what can Tuchel do to starve it off?
For now, the Blues should just take their three points and run. But that match was hardly convincing of title credentials. Mendy won’t always be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat. A wingback on the volley won’t always be able to be the difference maker. Something has got to be fixed that still very much isn’t.
Luckily, Chelsea’s run of games from now until returning from the next international break is kind. There is plenty of time to match results to performances. The Blues just need to build that bridge before the waters rise enough to get them wet.