The draw against Crystal Palace not only extended Chelsea's poor form but also exposed a burning problem of poor defense and lack of concentration in the final minutes. This is the time for Enzo Maresca to make the most of his rare break to revive the team.
Palace's equalizer in the 82nd minute was a clear testament to Chelsea's fragility. A risky pass from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez immediately surrounded Cole Palmer. Since then, a series of quick combinations of the "Great Bangs" have created an opportunity for Jean- Philippe Mateta to score easily.
Both the Blues' midfield and defense have exposed major gaps. Moises Caicedo has not received support from Enzo Fernandez, while the full-backs are positioned too far from the center. This disconnection is not a new phenomenon, it has become a recurring problem, especially in the final minutes of the match.
Statistics show that 7 out of Chelsea's total 24 goals conceded in the Premier League this season were scored after the 75th minute. This raises questions about the physical strength, tactics and adaptability of the Stamford Bridge team at this stage.
In addition to the weaknesses in the defense, the attacking spearhead of the London team is not yet stable enough. In the first half, Chelsea showed their effectiveness when Jadon Sancho, Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer coordinated well to open the score. However, there are few real opportunities to increase the gap.
If I have to decide why the team didnt win, its because we didnt be decisive in the finishing opportunities. If it were 2-0 for Chelsea, the match would probably be over, but it was a double-edged sword to continue looking for a goal to increase the gap" - Enzo Maresca shared.
One of the notable points is Maresca's conservatism in substitutions. It was not until the 81st minute that he withdrew Nicolas Jackson and chose to replace him with young player Marc Guiu instead of stars like Christopher Nkunku or Joao Felix.
When questioned about this, the Italian coach said he only made substitutions when necessary, not because of external pressure. However, the practical effectiveness of these decisions has not been proven. Letting players like Jadon Sancho or Cole Palmer play almost the entire match can exhaust them, affecting the quality of the game at the end of the match.
However, Chelsea still had positive signals in the draw against Crystal Palace. Young centre-back Josh Acheampong has impressed in his first Premier League start. The solidity and confidence of the 2006-born star could open up new options for Maresca in strengthening the defense.
In addition, the 44-year-old will have a full week to work with the players at Cobham, a rare thing since September. This is a valuable opportunity for him to rebuild the team, focus on tactics and overcome weaknesses.
Chelsea have now gone 4 consecutive matches without a win and are only close to the group with a fragile gap. The race for tickets to the Champions League is becoming fierce as opponents such as Man City, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are all accelerating.
The upcoming schedule will bring many difficulties for The Blues with Bournemouth and Man City ahead in January. However, Chelsea will face Morecambe in the FA Cup before that, a match that promises to give key players a break. A resounding victory will be a stepping stone for Enzo Maresca and his students to rekindle the excitement in the next stage.
