Formed by Hammers supporters Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth but accessible analysis of their team and its players,Analytics United use performance analysis and data to examine how Chelsea could approach Friday’s visit to London Stadium…
Managed by Manuel Pellegrini’s former coach at West Ham United, Enzo Maresca, Chelsea started their 2025/26 season with a disappointing 0-0 draw against FA Cup and Community Shield winners Crystal Palace last weekend. After finishing fourth last year, the Blues will have ambitions of consolidating their position inside the top five and competing deep into the UEFA Champions League having beaten current champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the Club World Cup final this summer.
As is to be expected, Chelsea have spent big in another summer transfer window with major signings like João Pedro and Jamie Gittens coming into the side from Brighton and Borussia Dortmund respectively. Those two came in to start their first game against Palace, but it was a substitute performance from fellow summer signing, Estêvão, that really caught the eye. The Brazilian wonderkid replaced Gittens in the second half and looked a real livewire in an otherwise uninspiring performance as he brought Chelsea to life in the wide areas and began to turn the game in the Blues’ favour.
His inclusion could be transformational for Maresca’s side given one of the key elements that was sometimes lacking last season was consistency in 1v1 production from wide. With Maresca preferring to overload the centre of the pitch with as many bodies as possible, it’s vitally important that Chelsea’s width-holders in attack are able to generate upside as often as possible when found 1v1 against defenders in the final third. And with Noni Madueke having departed for Arsenal, it was crucial that Chelsea signed a replacement with the ability to change the pace of the game in an instant as a dribbler, creator of chances and scorer of goals.