Chelsea set to face many challenges throughout the season

A brand new season of the Premier League is upon us, and it’s already three matches old now. Chelsea is yet to kickstart its campaign properly after contests against Everton, Tottenham and Leeds United. At the end of matchweek three, the Blues are 12th in the table on four points. Though it may seem strange with recent additions, it is challenging to observe much improvement in the team’s performance from the backend of the previous season.

Although Chelsea finished inside the top three in the previous season, its performances down the stretch were marred with mistakes and self-injected troubles. The Blues frequently conceded goals due to their own mistakes and these issues almost cost them a top in the top four altogether. If the previous match against Leeds United is anything to go by, the issues at the core remain and Chelsea will continue to struggle throughout the early part of the season.

Chelsea is set to face many challenges throughout the current season

Any fan who has watched Edouard Mendy for the past year will have been unsurprised by his gift of a goal that opened the Whites’ account in their emphatic win on Sunday at Elland Road. It was a mistake waiting to happen. Most supporters had also expressed their apprehension about starting Conor Gallagher and Jorginho together against a team that would press and work incredibly hard off the ball. Regardless, that’s what happened on Sunday. It’s a concern that neither Thomas Tuchel, nor any of his staff, failed to anticipate under these circumstances.

Injuries to N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic are something beyond Tuchel. However, after a year and a half managing this team, he must be aware of the number of matches the pair have missed between them. If the plan is to move to a back four eventually, the Blues will need a reliable defensive midfielder. Assuming the rumors are true, the board is ready to spend £60 million for an unproven young player like Anthony Gordon. If the money is not that much of an issue, they should look at players such as Declan Rice, rather than adding depths to other positions.

Another area of concern ever since Tuchel’s arrival is Chelsea’s attack. Apart from scoring the UEFA Champions League final winner, Kai Havertz is yet to prove his talent. Christian Pulisic is yet to replicate the form he showed during the 2019/20 COVID restart either. All of that being said, the American has not been afforded an extended run such as the ones Havertz or Mason Mount have enjoyed under Tuchel. The same can be said about Hakim Ziyech. The Moroccan had been Chelsea’s best player at the beginning of the calendar year before he was dropped.

Mount remains the lone player who has produced enough output going forward. Even he has had enough substandard performances though. The reality is these issues cannot be rectified quickly, but there should be at least some sign of improvement. At the moment, we aren’t witnessing any. The signing of Raheem Sterling is a welcomed addition, and he has improved Chelsea’s front line, albeit slightly at this point in time. His presence should begin to have a tangible impact on the side though, given all of the time he’s spent with his new teammates in training. Chelsea is still in talks with Barcelona for the transfer of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, amongst others, though.

The Blues also still retain a lot of players who need to be sold. The season can nevertheless be brought under control, Chelsea just cannot wait any longer. If the Blues take more time, it will be impossible to barely finish inside the top four at the end of the campaign.