On Sunday afternoon at the Vitality Stadium, Chelsea left with just a single point after facing AFC Bournemouth. Mauricio Pochettino’s CFC couldn’t reclaim their winning form in the Premier League, settling for a draw against Andoni Iraola’s side on the road. The Blues initially dominated the game, but both teams had promising chances; Nicolas Jackson’s long-range attempt hit the post, and Robert Sanchez made a crucial save denying Dango Ouattara.
In the second half, the dynamic remained much the same. Chelsea even found the back of the net, with Raheem Sterling’s powerful free-kick hitting the bar and then being tapped in by Levi Colwill, only to be ruled offside. The Cherries showed great determination, and as the match neared its end, they seemed poised for a potential late victory. However, they ultimately settled for a point.
Here are three Blues talking points from another CFC dropped points
Chelsea are already falling behind the pack
With only five points from five matches and a14th place position in the standings, CFC fans find it hard to accept that their expensively assembled squad is in this position. This sentiment is amplified by their struggle to break down a willing but ultimately limited home team, who had failed to secure a victory in any of their past nine Premier League games. While the visitors had some unfortunate near misses, a significant portion of their play lacked the necessary cutting edge.
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.
In the 79th minute, CFC relied on goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to secure the point, as he made a crucial save from Dominic Solanke, the AFCB forward who launched his career at the London club. A day after two Premier League games were decided with goals in added time, both Bournemouth and Chelsea struggled to find the net during the eight minutes of stoppage time in the second half.
As time ran out, Chelsea’s attack lacked urgency, prompting some boos from their fans. It has been quite a while since they last scored a late winner, or even mounted a comeback if they were trailing. Everyone just had the feeling that CFC wouldn’t manage to score a late goal.
Injuries within the Chelsea squad, including captain Reese James, midfielder Moises Caicedo, and forward Christopher Nkunku, meant that despite the club’s lavish spending of £1-billion in the past year, head coach Mauricio Pochettino had to fill his substitutes bench with teenagers who have yet to make their first-team debuts.
Chelsea traveling fans booed the team off
Blues supporters expressed their discontent following a 0-0 draw against Bournemouth, marking only one win in the first five matches of the season. When the final whistle blew, the away fans voiced their dissatisfaction with boos and jeers. Even when Ben Chilwell attempted to thank them, he received a very negative reaction.
It’s reasonable to assume that they weren’t singling out Chilwell for criticism – he is likely one of the more favored players on the squad. Rather, he was the only one courageous enough to approach them at that moment. The atmosphere appears to be souring quickly, especially considering the recent sense of promise in the air. The toxic environment is beginning to boil.