Enzo Maresca is happy with Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana and believes the duo are currently his best defensive pairing.
Chelsea were held to an uninspiring goalless draw at Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, as they lost further ground to Aston Villa and Manchester City.
The Blues remain fourth, but are now five points behind Villa in third, and six behind City in second, whilst the gap to 12th place is just three points.
Enzo Maresca on Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana
There weren’t many positives to take from the performance, but arguably the only one was keeping a clean sheet.
You could argue Chelsea were fortunate to keep a clean sheet, and had Bournemouth been better in front of goal the Blues probably concede two or three goals.
Wesley Fofana in action against Bournemouth.
Fofana has been in good form this season. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Having made three changes to the backline against Leeds, Maresca reverted to what is his strongest back four when Reece James plays in midfield.
Fofana and Chalobah were back in the heart of the defence, and the duo have conceded one league goal in the last five matches they’ve started together.
The pair are forming a good partnership, and Maresca admitted after the Bournemouth game he was really pleased with them.
“At the moment, yeah,” he told his post match press conference.
“At the moment I think in the last four or five clean sheets we had they were always there.
“They are doing very good.”
Liam Delap injured again
Whilst Chelsea have improved defensively, they have struggled in attack in the last two games, and have lost Liam Delap to injury again.
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Cole Palmer speaks to a referee.
Enzo Maresca shouts from the touchline.
Enzo Maresca appeals on the touchline.
Delap went off with a shoulder injury and is set for another spell on the sidelines, leaving Chelsea short at number nine.
Marc Guiu and Joao Pedro are the other options, but neither are in great form, whilst Pedro Neto is also an option down the middle, and it will be interesting to see what Maresca does.