Wolves vs Chelsea: 5 key takeaways for the Blues after win at Molineux

Chelsea secured their first Premier League win of the season in emphatic fashion, triumphing 6-2 in a thrilling eight-goal encounter. The victory not only marked a decisive performance away from home but also saw Chelsea FC equal their record for the most goals scored in an away match. A hat trick from Noni Madueke, three assists and a goal from Cole Palmer, and goals from Nicolas Jackson and Joao Felix rounded off a commanding display at Molineux Stadium. Here are five key takeaways from an outstanding performance by the Blues.

1. Noni Madueke is not for sale

Noni Madueke was the center of attention both on and off the pitch. The 22-year-old faced criticism and boos from the crowd due to a controversial Instagram post before the match, but he silenced his critics with a sensational 14-minute hat-trick. Madueke showcased his exceptional dribbling skills, repeatedly taking on defenders and beating them, and added two spectacular finishes with his weaker foot. Calm and composed in front of goal, Madueke continues to impress this season and has firmly established himself as Chelsea's preferred choice on the right wing. His performances make it clear that CFC should not consider selling him.

2. Cole Palmer thrives in a central role

Cole Palmer demonstrated why his best position is in the center of the pitch. After a less impactful performance on the right wing against Manchester City, Palmer flourished in a central role against Wolves. He scored a stunning goal, delicately chipping Jose Sa for Chelsea's second, and provided a hat-trick of assists, setting up all three of Madueke's goals. Despite a slow start, the 22-year-old grew into the game, showcasing his class and playmaking abilities. This match highlighted that Palmer is most effective when playing centrally, rather than out wide.

3. Portuguese duo shows promise

Chelsea’s new Portuguese signings, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix, combined brilliantly to score the sixth goal. Neto, coming off the bench, haunted his former club with an assist to Felix, who marked his first appearance since re-signing with Chelsea by hammering home a powerful finish. Neto's vision to pick out Felix's run was a marked improvement from the left side, where Mykhailo Mudryk had struggled. It appears likely that Neto will take over the left wing, while Felix can be a key player in the team once Chelsea addresses their midfield pivot issues.

4. Lack of physicality in midfield

Chelsea’s midfield lacked physicality in the absence of Romeo Lavia, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez struggled to provide the necessary physical presence, allowing Wolverhampton Wanderers to bypass the midfield too easily. The lack of tackles, pressure, and intensity made it easy for Wolves to win duels and transition quickly from defense to attack. This issue was also evident in the match against Manchester City when Lavia was substituted. Manager Enzo Maresca will need to address this weakness going forward.

5. Tactical adjustments pay off

Enzo Maresca’s tactical acumen was on full display as he made effective changes to improve Chelsea's performance. Realizing that Mudryk was not contributing enough on the left wing, Maresca introduced Neto at halftime, which immediately made Chelsea more threatening. Felix was also brought on for his debut, and he quickly made an impact by scoring a goal. Maresca also addressed the team’s tendency to lose possession cheaply in the first half, which led to counter-attacks and set-piece opportunities for the opposition.

Reflecting on the match, Maresca stated:

"I said in a delicate way we needed to be more accurate. We started the first 15 minutes very well. We scored a goal and had two or three more chances. Then we started to lose easy balls, and when you lose easy balls, you concede counter-attacks and set-pieces, and you lose confidence.

This happened the other day against Servette. I just said to play the way we want to play, we need to be a little more accurate. We can lose the ball if they press us very intensely, but we cannot lose the ball by giving it away by making the wrong decision. The difference between the first half and second half was being more accurate."

Credit to Maresca for identifying the problems and making quick adjustments to rectify them. Chelsea now turn their attention to the second leg of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, as they travel to Geneva to face Servette FC, aiming to secure their place in the competition after a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in the first leg.