Chelsea put an finish to their three-game loss streak on Tuesday evening, beating Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. This was precisely the sort of sport the Blues wanted, to get three factors on the board, rating a few objectives and regain some confidence that has been misplaced in latest weeks.
Chelsea’s underlying numbers over the previous 5 seasons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Possession % | Pictures per sport | Pictures conceded per sport | League end |
2020/21 | 61.2% | 14.6 | 8.8 | 4th |
2021/22 | 62.2% | 15.6 | 9 | third |
2022/23 | 58.8% | 12.7 | 11.5 | twelfth |
2023/24 | 59.0% | 14.4 | 14.6 | sixth |
2024/25 | 58.2% | 16.1 | 11.1 | TBD |
Stats taken from WhoScored | ||||
When taking a look at Chelsea’s underlying metrics for this season, you possibly can see Enzo Maresca has already had an influence, protecting their possession numbers comparable general, however taking their pictures per sport to the best it has been within the final 5 seasons, while enhancing their poor defensive report from final time period.
Again in December, Chelsea have been sitting fairly at second place within the Premier League, wanting extraordinarily more likely to safe Champions League soccer for the 2025/26 season and return to competing amongst Europe’s most interesting.
Nevertheless, Maresca’s aspect have been hit with some very massive accidents over the previous few months, dropping some key gamers that have been massively influential to Chelsea’s sensible run of kind, which now means they’re counting on a barely lighter group to maintain their Champions League hopes alive.
Christopher Nkunku’s essential week
One participant Maresca goes to must depend on extra within the subsequent few months is Christopher Nkunku, who did rating the opener towards Southampton of their latest 4-0 victory. The Frenchman was signed by Chelsea in 2023, becoming a member of the membership for a price of round £52m.
The 27-year-old has solely managed to make 48 appearances for the Blues since becoming a member of, spending the vast majority of the 2023/24 season out with damage points. In these 48 video games, Nkunku has scored 17 objectives, offering 5 assists and totalling 2,092 minutes performed.
The ahead’s largest subject has been the actual fact Cole Palmer performs in his finest place, occupying the quantity ten position, having the liberty to roam and join play.
Nevertheless, within the absence of Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, Maresca has needed to discover different options in his ahead line, shifting the items round to get the most effective from them.
Nkunku managed to attain a objective and set one up towards the Saints, additionally managing two key passes, profitable three of his 5 duels – floor and aerial – and taking 4 pictures, two of which have been on the right track.
However the Frenchman is not the one participant who put in a well-timed efficiency, as followers have been beginning to grumble a couple of sure different particular person who had been struggling in latest weeks.
One other Chelsea redemption
Levi Colwill has clearly been one in all Maresca’s favourites since taking on on the membership, beginning 25 out of the doable 27 Premier League video games up to now, lacking one by damage and being rested within the different.
In these 25 appearances, Colwill has scored as soon as, offered one help, contributed to 5 clear sheets and totalled 2,250 minutes performed, albeit whereas notably coming underneath hearth for his “inexcusable” show within the 3-0 defeat to Brighton on the Amex.
That stated, the 21-year-old defender helped to silence the doubters by placing in a robust show towards Southampton, taking 96 touches within the match, finishing 78/81 of his passes (96% accuracy), making one key go, profitable three of his 5 floor duels, profitable two of his three aerial duels and, in fact, scoring a objective.
Colwill has been described as a “prime expertise” prior to now by Jacek Kulig, with many anticipating the younger defender to change into one of many perfect in his place in England. His ex-Brighton coach, Roberto De Zerbi, even said, “It is tough to search out one other centre-back, left centre-back, along with his high quality”.
The expertise of Colwill is clearly there for all to see, however the consistency has been struggling as of late. Nevertheless, there might be a participant getting back from damage who will assist Colwill so much, forming a robust partnership earlier within the season, which noticed the Blues go on their finest run of kind.
How Wesley Fofana’s return might help Colwill
Wesley Fofana was formally again on the Chelsea bench towards Southampton, having been out because the begin of December, when he went off injured towards Aston Villa.
Earlier than that, Fofana had began 12 out of a doable 13 Premier League video games, the one one he missed being as a consequence of a suspension.
In these 12 video games, Fofana partnered Colwill on all 12 events, profitable seven instances, drawing 4 instances and solely dropping as soon as, which was their opening-day defeat towards Manchester Metropolis.
Wesley Fofana vs Levi Colwill comparability | ||
|---|---|---|
Stats (per 90 minutes) | Fofana | Colwill |
Progressive Carries | 1.24 | 0.40 |
Progressive Passes | 2.21 | 4.20 |
Passes Tried | 62.2 | 78.1 |
Cross Completion % | 89.6% | 89.8% |
Passes into Closing Third | 3.89 | 4.60 |
Tackles | 1.15 | 1.28 |
Blocks | 1.24 | 1.12 |
Interceptions | 1.06 | 1.06 |
Ball Recoveries | 4.34 | 3.16 |
Aerial Duels Received | 2.04 | 2.28 |
Aerial Win % | 69.7% | 61.3% |
Stats taken from FBref | ||
If you examine the defensive duo’s underlying metrics this season, you possibly can see how they complement one another properly, with Fofana being the marginally extra aggressive defender, trying to step in, make ball recoveries, and apply strain, while Colwill is barely extra methodical, taking part in as a sweeper behind him.
This additionally goes for his or her on-ball partnership, as Fofana provides the Blues extra skill to hold the ball out from defensive situations, kick-starting assaults by driving by the opposition press, while Colwill is extra of a progressive passer, trying to dictate and orchestrate from the again.
Fofana’s return to the aspect might be precisely what Colwill must rediscover his finest kind, and coming off the again of a robust efficiency towards Southampton, he might now have the additional little bit of confidence wanted to go on a superb run along with his centre-back companion again by his aspect.
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