Chelsea vs RB Salzburg: Three things to look out for

Chance creation

The west London side’s forwards have the major responsibility to create chances, along with the wingbacks. This means that they cannot focus on scoring and creating at the same time, because the movements of a player trying to create a scoring chance and that of a player trying to get on the end of one are completely different.

Chelsea has been lacking in goal scoring chances this season. They are creating shots, but the shots aren’t just good enough. If the Blues want to undoubtedly close the gap on other premier league heavyweights and even fellow Premier League competitors like Liverpool and Manchester City this season, they have to create more than enough chances.

Chelsea will come up against an RB Salzburg that is currently plagued by injuries to majority of the first team players and will likely look to sit back and maintain their shape and try to hurt CFC on the counter. The Blues will need to be smart in possession and take every opportunity with a knife cutting edge.

Tuchel’s men have created 1.8 big chances per game so far this season opposed to RB Salzburg 3.08 all including penalties. This is even much more significantly lower than fellow Premier League competitors, Liverpool (3) and Manchester City (4.8). Even Brighton & Hove Albion (2.6) has managed to create more big chances per game than Chelsea.

Chelsea should be aiming to create at least 3 big chances per game this season if they want to get closer to the top of the table. Their main creative players like Reece James, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling really need to up their game against Salzburg tomorrow.

Hakim Ziyech who is one of Chelsea’s best creators has only started once so far all season.
Compared to the already aforementioned player, James and Ziyech and probably Sterling are the only players you can say can actually unlock those defenses.

Chelsea has struggled when up against teams that have a good defensive structure – like the game against West Ham. It still remains to be seen what changes will take effect to this CFC team, but whatever will happen, we cannot just know it all with only the Salzburg game.