BBC Pundit has praised Chelsea defender Malo Gusto. After Chelsea won against Tottenham. The recent London derby with Tottenham Hotspur was a tough challenge for Chelsea. On Sunday, Chelsea found the going very tough in the first half. Tottenham pounced early and scored two with their first two chances. Chelsea found themselves in a hole though as Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski put them in front.
Chelsea were defensively shoddy. Marc Cucurella struggled particularly, slipping twice, and that gave Spurs chance after chance. Badiashile was also struggling on the right side of central defence, a position he is not most comfortable with.
Enzo Maresca tweaked things at halftime and made changes that could help Chelsea solve these issues. Malo Gusto came on for him in central defence at right back and Badiashile back to his more natural left-center-back position. This was a tactical shift of theirs to strengthen their defence and get their performance overall.
Former Crystal Palace player Clinton Morrison said that Gusto’s introduction influenced the game so much. And Gusto had come on at the interval and he said Chelsea looked a better team in the second.’ Gusto, however, got the praise from Morrison, who praised the club for helping to make ‘a massive difference’ on the right flank.
Moises Caicedo made a right-back debut and along with Badiashile could not cope with Tottenham’s attacking forays. Chelsea’s only natural right-back option remained, with Reece James still sidelined with injury. As for Chelsea, his speed, quality, and ability to supply width, is an integral part of their team going forward.
Malo Gusto talks about his 'great relationship' with @ReeceJames and creating something special… 🌟
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 12, 2024
Malo Gusto was at his best
Chelsea have since spent £30.7m on Gusto, the Frenchman has not disappointed. He can play defence equally and play offence at the same time. It’s not ideal to have him in a right-back role as he’s one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. A missed opportunity for Chelsea is to utilise Caicedo in a position that does not suit his talents.
Chelsea’s form this season has been inconsistent in statistics. Defensive organisation has been an issue and in games against counter-attacking parties such as Tottenham they have been down on confidence. Those were weaknesses seen on open display during the first half against Spurs.
Chelsea conceded two goals within a period. This, however, did not come easily for them after bad tactical changes at the break. They had to improve their play despite being resilient.
This weekend will test Chelsea once more, with another London derby, against Brentford. Winning this match is hugely important for their season, as they climbed the Premier League table. That could mean Maresca going with Gusto against Brentford. Which should result in a harder defensive performance and more attacking options on the right flank.
Chelsea on Second in the Table
One cannot downplay the inclusion of Gusto. That ability to stretch other defences. Open up space for teammates can make Chelsea’s attacking play that much more potent. Chelsea can also regain control in midfield with Caicedo back alongside N’Golo Kante. His strengths lying embedded in the centre of the park.
Chelsea experts believe they can now turn their season around. If they can continue in the way they ended their second half against Tottenham. They will need to advance with consistency. In order, they have to be proactive in attack and find ways to keep their defensive structure.
Finally, a wake-up call from Chelsea’s recent match against Tottenham was also an opportunity to project the team forward. They had begun badly. But adjustments at halftime give no reason why they shouldn’t go on and produce some serious results in the future.
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A bounce back may have been in the offing from fans. Gamblers alike have Gusto started against Brentford and Caicedo returned to midfield. As the two moves cannot continue to be overlooked. He Should help Chelsea make a real impact in their upcoming fixtures. Learning from setbacks and adapting will be vital for the team to succeed throughout this tough season. In the pursuit of winning the Premier League.
As of now, Chelsea fans are hopeful about Gusto’s potential impact against Brentford. The team is working hard to improve its performance and secure valuable points in upcoming matches. The coaching staff is focused on refining strategies that will best utilize their players’ strengths.
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