Three things we learnt in Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Plymouth
By Hugo Amaya
2. The attack is a disaster
It’s hard to point out who was at fault for the lackluster showing on Saturday, but overall, the attack was a disaster. Chelsea took 41 shots with an astonishing 11 finding the target throughout the 120 minutes player. Furthermore, the Blues had 393 passes in the opposition’s half (768 passes overall), 13 accurate crosses and 20 corners. Out of all of that, only two goals came to fruition, both of which came from the fullbacks. If that is not a cause for concern at this point in the campaign, nothing will be. This is especially true when one considers the personnel on the pitch against Plymouth.
In conclusion, Chelsea needs to do better at finishing chances. The forwards are severely lacking in confidence, to the point that scoring against a League One team seemed impossible. Although one could argue that Plymouth’s defense—goalkeeper included—was outstanding, the Blues have the quality to break down any defense on the continent. Relying on fullbacks to score both the equalizer and the winner is not a sustainable winning formula.
The only attacking players willing to break the defense down were Mason Mount and Hakim Ziyech. If not for the pair of them, Chelsea would have lost the game, there’s no doubt about it. Even after Havertz and Werner came on, not much changed. The Blues were taking shots knowing there were bodies in the way, making deep passes that landed in the keeper’s hands and taking one too many touches before taking each shot. From a holistic view, this needs to improve as soon as possible. If Chelsea cannot score consistently, the season is all but lost.