Three lessons learnt in Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras: On top of the world!

2. Chelsea’s dysfunctional attack

Despite the 2-1 victory on the night, Chelsea’s attack was once again subpar. Recording 71 percent possession and registering 20 shots in total across the 120 minutes, the Blues somehow only managed a mere three efforts on target (one of which came from Kai Havertz’s 117′ penalty).

On an individual level, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Havertz struggled to make an impact on the game, despite recording an assist and a goal respectively. Moreover, aside from some individual moments of skill and fancy footwork, the likes of Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner were likewise unable to impose themselves on the game. Chelsea’s offensive woes become particularly telling when Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr, three of the four centrehalves that found themselves on the pitch, took turns taking long-ranged efforts at Weverton’s goal.

It was once again not good enough from Thomas Tuchel’s Blues and it is becoming increasingly clear that the problem is systematic in nature, which is in turn exacerbated by a lack of confidence amongst Chelsea’s forwards. The decision to start with a back five when both Ben Chilwell and Reece James were unavailable for selection was a questionable one to say the least. Both players are crucial to the way the Blues attack in a back five system. Their dynamism and offensive capabilities are difficult to replicate with the likes of Azpilicueta and Hudson-Odoi.

Of course, the main counter-argument would be that Chelsea still found a way to get the job done. Nevertheless, one certainly wonders how much longer can the club’s fledgling attack go on before the club finds itself inevitably dragged back into the mad scramble for a top four finish in the Premier League?