Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea: 3 Blues talking points
By Abdul Abdullahi
The West London club currently find themselves trailing seven points behind the Champions League qualification position. Arsenal has secured four wins out of their five matches, drawing the remaining one, placing them in fourth position for qualification. The gap already seems considerable for Pochettino’s team. Their upcoming four fixtures in the English Premier League include matches against Aston Villa and Fulham, along with a clash against Brighton in the EFL Cup.
The contrast between the flawless leaders, Manchester City, and Chelsea is already a significant 10 points. While the expectations for The Blues to challenge for the title were modest, this gap emphasizes the considerable ground they have to cover. Despite the absence of continental competition, which theoretically should favor Chelsea’s domestic performance, this hasn’t been the case. Manchester City has already accumulated three times the points.
More concerning for Pochettino personally is his streak of 14 away Premier League games without a win, a record that dates back to his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. Though it’s still early in the season, CFC has yet to experience the immediate impact anticipated from the South American coach. Securing victories against Fulham and Burnley will be crucial to avoid further scrutiny of this unimpressive statistic. The Pride of London can no longer afford just talk; goals are imperative. They’ve begun the season with only five to their name, marking their worst start in 28 years.
Bad luck or excuses?
Chelsea struck the woodwork twice with their shots against Bournemouth’s goal. In the 51st minute, Raheem Sterling’s free kick hit the bar and bounced down onto the goal-line. Although defender Levi Colwill followed up and put the ball into the net, he was flagged offside. In the 13th minute, Nicolas Jackson’s shot hit the post after a pass exchange with Ukraine winger Mykhailo Mudryk. The Blues has created 12 big chances as well as missing 12 big chances. The ingredients are there, we’re just missing the recipe.