Positives - Continued
3. Wesley Fofana’s Return a Huge Boost
The return of Wesley Fofana to the starting XI was a massive boost for Chelsea. His absence had been felt, with the backline never quite the same since his injury. Though he started at right-back, a position requiring more attacking runs than his usual center-back role, he performed well in the 73 minutes he played.
Among players who featured for at least 45 minutes, Fofana had the best passing success rate (95%) and made eight final third passes. His return to full fitness will be crucial for Chelsea as they prepare to face tougher opponents. If the Frenchman can stay injury-free, it will have a significant positive impact on the squad.
4. Improved Fan Atmosphere at Stamford Bridge
Much has been said about the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge in recent months. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca even made a public appeal for fans to be more vocal in their support. While it wasn’t perfect, there was a noticeable improvement compared to previous matches.
The energy inside the stadium grew as the game went on, especially towards the end when Chelsea was working hard to see out the win. The pressing and effort from players like Cucurella and Neto also played a role in lifting the atmosphere.