While most people are taking aim at Robert Sanchez as they look to apportion blame for yesterday’s defeat to Liverpool, Simon Johnson is looking elsewhere.
His piece for the Athletic today focuses on Chelsea’s central defenders, a part of the team which of course closely interacts with the goalkeeper, and can affect or be affected by issues in that part of the pitch too.
Johnson notes that Chelsea have spent vast sums on defenders, yet haven’t found the dominant pair (or even the dominant individual) which the team can hang its hat on and rely on to be a rock at the back every week. For all the talent we have, there still is a lack of “brick wall” to the back line:
“Since taking over in May 2022, more than £185million ($241m) has been spent by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium on Kalidou Koulibaly (who joined Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal after one season), Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga. Signing Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer and promoting Levi Colwill from the academy has added to the strength in depth,” the writer noted.
Defence and defenders a major new test for Maresca
Johnson admits there is “raw talent” in the form of Veiga and particularly Colwill, as well as mitigating circumstances in the case of Fofana, who is still working his way back from almost two years out.
But mitigating circumstances and talent don’t win you games, and yesterday was lost in large part because of poor play at the back. Colwill gave away a penalty, then the whole defensive line froze and Sanchez failed to come on the second half Mo Salah cross which Curtis Jones met to give the home team the lead.
This is a huge test of Enzo Maresca’s ability, as the coach must develop defenders as well as attackers if he wants to take Chelsea to the next level.
A reliable, quality keeper breeds confidence and steadiness throughout a side—especially the backline. But right now Sanchez has got to be making everybody nervous and that’s the worst thing possible for a group of young defenders. It’s really important for us to fix the keeper situation before rushing to judgment on our young centre-halves.