4. Improving partnership of Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill.
Though Chelsea was fortunate not to concede more, the growing understanding between Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill shows promise. The French-English duo have the potential to bring stability to Chelsea’s defense, and further development in their partnership could secure a solid foundation at the back.
Negatives
1. Robert Sanchez’s Costly Error
Once again, Robert Sanchez’s performance proved costly for Chelsea. Manchester United took the lead after Sanchez conceded a penalty by clipping Rasmus Hojlund’s ankle, even though the striker’s touch had already taken the ball away from the goal. This marks Sanchez’s fourth major error leading directly to a goal this season, raising questions about his reliability.
While Sanchez has made some good saves, that’s simply his job—these routine stops don’t excuse the costly mistakes he continues to make. Fans are increasingly frustrated, especially since Djordje Petrovic, who showed greater reliability last season, was not given a chance by Enzo Maresca before loaning him out. Sanchez’s inconsistency at this level is becoming a risk Chelsea can no longer overlook.
2. Tactical Decisions Regarding Malo Gusto
Enzo Maresca must recognize that players can indeed start three consecutive matches and complete 90 minutes. It was surprising to see the Italian head coach field two right-backs, with one playing as a makeshift left-back, especially when Chelsea has three senior left-backs available. While it's understandable to experiment with tactics if they yield positive results, Malo Gusto's positioning in the #10 role on the right side did not provide any advantage. He often struggled to maintain possession or find viable passing options despite having several choices available.
Fortunately, Maresca made the necessary change at halftime, which allowed Chelsea to gain better control of the match. However, some of Maresca's tactical choices remain confusing. It would have been straightforward to revert to a more traditional formation by placing the right-back and left-back in their natural positions when Marc Cucurella returned from suspension.