Charlotte vs Chelsea match review from Bank of America Stadium

Chelsea kicked off the second match of its North American preseason tour by traveling to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on the newly minted Charlotte FC. The MLS side is in its inaugural season of American top flight. The Blues started this match with a 3-4-3 formation with an overall strong XI consisting of Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Thiago Silva, Emerson, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso, Hakim Ziyech, Michy Batshuayi, and Christian Pulisic. Aside from Batshuayi and Emerson, every player in the XI should be featured with an important enough role in the squad for the upcoming season.

The atmosphere for the match was impressive with a healthy majority of the 75,412-person capacity at Bank of America Stadium filled with fans. Charlotte supporters were jubilant at the chance to see their newly formed club take on a super club from Europe, and this was the soccer culture that America needs to continue instilling and growing to make MLS a better league for all involved. There were, however, a massive amount of Chelsea fans and the crowd was fairly split between the two supporters’ groups.

Charlotte FC vs Chelsea complete match review from the United States

The match itself was encouraging to start—from a Chelsea supporter perspective—as the midfield controlled ball progression and overall supported the attack enough to keep constant pressure on Charlotte’s defense. Particularly effective players earlier on seemed to be Ziyech with a few dribbles through and Pulisic looked more than up for the match in his home country. James was lively, and Alonso got forward with ease from his left wingback role early on. A standout in midfield was Jorginho. The reigning UEFA Player of the Year was at some of his best to start this match, as he intercepted and disrupted the midfield room for Charlotte, which made it difficult for the MLS side to get on the ball with meaningful possession. This massively played into Chelsea’s favor and the impact the two center midfielders have within Tuchel’s 3-4-3 was apparent.

Charlotte generated some chances, though, and a great opportunity presented itself with an out-swinging cross to the back post that was headed into the ground and expertly saved by Mendy. The constant Chelsea pressure finally broke the Charlotte defense in the 30th minute with a goal from Captain America. The goal was nothing impressive, but Pulisic was at the right place for the right moment and coolly converted an easy chance after the shot by Batshauyi was deflected and bounced to an unmarked Pulisic. It was a deserved lead for the away side after a strong first half where it possessed overall control of the match.

Unfortuantely, things can change quickly, and they did after the break. Thomas Tuchel made almost a full change in personnel for the second half, and it was not an inspiring performance. Fans in the stadium and online watching from home were not satisfied. Trevoh Chalobah replaced Silva, Malang Sarr replaced Emerson, Levi Colwill replaced James, Conor Gallagher replaced Kovacic, Ethan Ampadu replaced Jorginho, Ben Chilwell replaced Alonso, Kenedy replaced Hudson-Odoi, Kai Havertz replaced Batshuayi, Raheem Sterling replaced Pulisic, and Mason Mount replaced Ziyech. Mendy was the only surviving member of the starting XI.

The undoubted standout was Sterling, who was the most effective player from the second half changes. Overall, he drifted around the front line more than many expected. Sterling had a brilliant run taking on and beating several Charlotte players that led to him being free in the box and then played a dangerous cross to the far post. But unfortunately, no Chelsea players were attacking the central or right-sided areas of the box and the great individual effort from Sterling was wasted. I hope this is not an early precursor to the Blues’ attack for the season’s kickoff in August. Sterling provided a type of player profile that was previously lacking, and if he can continue to use his dribbling abilities to win his take-ons and create chances, this will become an expert piece of business for Todd Boehly’s first signing for the men’s squad in his tenure as owner.

Despite the encouraging signs from Sterling, the rest of the team was nowhere near his level. The second half was simply pathetic from a team standpoint. The lack of quality in the midfield was particularly obvious, and the role that Jorginho has was emphasized as the midfield could not cope without his presence. Ampadu could not play the defensive aspects of the position well, and there was little-to-no chemistry and link up play between he and Gallagher. The lack of midfield cohesion was painfully obvious in real time, and it allowed Charlotte to assert itself into the match and control the second half.

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Charlotte controlled the ball more, but the Blues coped well enough in their own defensive phases of play. Despite not allowing the equalizer for a decent period, the team just did not seem capable of matching Charlotte’s ability and intensity. This was particularly concerning that Premier League players were being run off the pitch by an inaugural MLS team. Although it was only the preseason, it was the manner of the performance that was incredibly concerning. Chelsea’s lack of match fitness played a part in this because Charlotte is in the middle of its season.

Most of the players comprising the second half changes were players who were somewhat or outright competing to prove their worth to the manager and make their role in the squad established. They mostly failed to do so and likely suggested that they may not be quite ready to take the next step up based solely on the 45-minute input in Charlotte. This should be caveated by stating that the heavy rotation Tuchel employed for the second half may have been too many changes at the same time. This is also preseason, so there is no suggestion here that players will not make it, but simply observing that if the players rotated in for the second half do ultimately play similarly when the real season starts, it may not be good enough for Chelsea. Much can change, though. Do not throw the metaphorical baby out with the bathwater.

Charlotte easily exploited the Blues’ squad, so much so that the final stat line had similar possession numbers and passes between the clubs. Charlotte was awarded a penalty and easily converted its big chance. The North Carolina crowd was loving the misery inflicted upon the traveling Chelsea support, and the home side did not let up after getting the equalizer. The effort level continued to wane for the Blues as the match carried on, and many supporters within the ground had enough of such a letdown performance. Fans who experienced this level of frustration, it is warranted, but again this is preseason and Tuchel was likely using a tertiary back-up plan. It makes definitive conclusions difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain. If nothing else, this gives the manager a chance to reconsider his decisions to give trial minutes, how and why the minutes did not work and how to rectify this prior to kick off against Arsenal in Orlando on July 23.

The match ended at 1-1 as neither side was able to find a winning goal late on. The Chelsea team were relieved to end the match at 1-1. The match went to penalties, which was odd for a preseason match, but nonetheless has been the norm this year for North American club tours. The weaknesses of Mendy in goal as a penalty stopper were on display again, and Chelsea lost the shootout 5-3. Charlotte fans were ecstatic and celebrated the biggest win for their club, although it functionally means nothing.

It is worth noting the penalty shootout was marred by one of the worst penalties I have observed at the professional level in my time as a fan. Gallagher took the penalty with a stuttered run up to the ball, and then hit it right down the middle with such little pace on the ball that it could only be described as a slow roller straight to the keeper. It was reminiscent of a bad, under hit pass, let alone a penalty shootout attempt. I was shocked and this missed penalty ultimately undid the Blues as Mendy did not to contest or stop any of the Charlotte penalties. He faced six in total.

Although this penalty was the final whimper from an uninspiring performance, positives were still there. No one was injured, Sterling was highly encouraging in his debut, Kalidou Koulibaly should not have much competition for a starting role, Pulisic was on his game, Batshuayi looked capable enough and Chilwell got more minutes to continue his return to form from his ACL injury last season. Onward to Orlando. Up the Chels. Keep the Blue Flag Flying High.