Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
On Saturday, Chelsea kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League since January after beating Everton 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The weekend before, Alonso’s side only conceded one goal in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth, and there is no doubt that the introduction of the Moises Caicedo and Jordan Henderson double pivot we are seeing has contributed to the team’s defensive improvement.
Before that, Chelsea were conceding far too many goals. In fact, prior to the international break, no team in the Premier League had conceded more goals than the Blues. It was not just down to bad defending.
Chelsea’s midfield had no control, especially during crucial parts of games. When you have two right-backs playing there — Reece James and Malo Gusto — that is not too much of a surprise.
Opponents were gaining possession and able to create chance after chance until eventually scoring. That has rarely happened since Caicedo and Henderson were brought into the side.
Naturally, Chelsea fans always expected the team to improve defensively once Caicedo returned from injury. The Ecuadorian is arguably the best ball-winning midfielder in the world. Following Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton, Rogers even described Caicedo as a “general”!
But what has also helped is partnering Caicedo with Henderson. The former Liverpool captain knows how to dictate games and control the tempo. He can slow things down when the opposition tries to up the ante and keep hold of the ball for Chelsea. If Alonso’s men have the ball, they cannot be hurt, and that is what has happened following Henderson’s introduction.
As per Sofascore, he completed 61 of his 68 passes at the Hill Dickinson, giving him a passing accuracy of 90%. Whether it is Henderson or another midfielder Chelsea sign in January, if the Blues have a controller next to a destroyer like Caicedo, they are going to win most of their games and qualify for the Champions League, so long as their front three continue firing.
Lack of European football can also contribute to top-four finish for Chelsea
What else could help Chelsea to finish in the top four this season? Well, there is no doubt that not having to play in Europe right now is going to benefit them.
Before the campaign even started, football supporters were quick to acknowledge that not having to play twice a week would aid Alonso and his boys, and it is being brought up once again.
More hours can be spent on the training ground perfecting Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 formation, which the players are not used to yet, while there is also more time to rest between Premier League fixtures.
Yes, Tuesday and Wednesday nights have got a lot more boring if you are a Chelsea fan. However, that absence from Europe could be the very thing that helps the two-time Champions League winners get back there.
Pedro Neto can be secret weapon in top-four race
Saturday’s victory over Everton shows what can happen if teams put all their focus on Palmer, Pedro and Rogers. Pedro Neto may be playing as a wing-back, but he is an attacker and found himself in some dangerous positions in Everton’s box.
The Toffees did not deal with him and were punished as the Portugal international went on to bag a brace. Neto has been a real attacking threat on the right and is giving defenders and midfielders on the pitch the slip as they obsess over Chelsea’s front three.
The race for top four could be tight once again. But Alonso adjusting his midfield to give it more control, using Chelsea’s days off wisely and utilising Neto in the manner he has been, could make the difference for the Blues come May.