Burnley 1-4 Chelsea: 3 Blues positives and negatives
By Vishnu Raj
Chelsea extended their winning streak to three as they defeated Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. It was a good couple of weeks for a team that has yet to find its feet. Up next for the Blues is a home fixture against Arsenal after the international break.
The players are a long way from gelling. Mauricio Pochettino still has a lot of work to do to get Chelsea back to their best. There were positives as well as negatives from the match.
Chelsea positives
Vintage Raheem Sterling
The English winger was left out of the latest English squad for the international matches. But Sterling proved why he has a lot to offer. When Chelsea found it tough, Sterling’s pace and trickery helped them equalize. Later Cole Palmer converted the penalty won by Sterling. He also got on the scoresheet before being instrumental in Nicolas Jackson’s goal. That brings us to.
Nicolas Jackson proving his worth
The former Villarreal man was back in the squad after the suspension but was among the substitutes before being introduced at half-time. He looked lively and showed composure and quick feet to score CFC’s fourth goal. Two goals in a row will give Jackson a lot of confidence.
Mauricio Pochettino’s management
When the news came out that Mykhailo Mudryk was not injured, fans expected the Ukrainian to start again after scoring his first goal last round. But Pochettino decided not to risk him. The replacement Sterling was the standout player on Saturday. Chelsea were lethargic in the first half but played with purpose in the second half. It showed the Argentine’s team-talk making a difference.
The negatives
Chelsea’s backline in the first half
The overall performance of Chelsea players apart from Sterling was not that good in the first half. The worst part was the backline passing the ball between them and the three central midfielders. They were recycling the ball without any purpose. It has been a constant feature of the west London side for over a year. Pochettino will have to work hard to eradicate that from the squad.
Sluggish Armando Broja
Broja looked very lively against Fulham which was rewarded with him scoring his first goal of the season. Against Burnley, it was the opposite. His lack of pressing made the job of the home team easy. Broja was jogging around instead of attacking them. Pochettino showed his verdict by replacing him at half-time.
Enzo Fernandes inside the box
Fernandes has been one of CFC’s standout performers since his arrival. But one area where he has disappointed a lot is his finishing. On Saturday, he had few chances to score a goal for himself for the first time in Chelsea colors. But it was a familiar story of him hitting a weak shot or missing it. Meanwhile, for Argentina, he does not have such issues. It is something he should work on.