Three Scrooges NOT to be stingy about...
FROM mid-august to the end of November, Chelsea’s defence was all but impenetrable.
It was miserly, Scrooge-like, with just nine goals conceded in 21 games in all competitions. At times this month, however, it has been leakier than Dominic Cummings.
It’s an issue that has raised concerns of a December drop-off at Stamford Bridge to rival the one which marked the beginning of the end for Frank Lampard a year ago.
Not that Thomas Tuchel will find himself out of work any time soon. Champions League triumphs tend to buy goodwill, even at Chelsea.
But as Gary Lineker tweeted after the 1-1 draw with Everton on Thursday, “The three-horse race is in danger of becoming a two-horse race if the mini-slump in south-west London isn’t halted”.
In many ways, the fact the locals were so frustrated at the final whistle in midweek is a testament to what Tuchel and his men have achieved so far this season.
Most fans would be delighted if their side had conceded just 12 goals in their first 17 Premier League matches and were heading into the festive period with the secondmeanest defensive record in the top flight.
But because they have let in seven goals in four league games this month, as well as three against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League, all of sudden it feels as if things are lurching towards crisis.
They aren’t, of course, but if Chelsea are to stay the course in the title hunt, then they will have to shore things up at the back given the head of steam Manchester City are building. What hasn’t helped is the injury issues they have had to deal with, notably to Romelu Lukaku but perhaps more importantly to N’golo Kante and the underappreciated Mateo Kovacic.
Some of the problems have been of their own making, with individual mistakes proving costly. Then there’s the situation the club finds itself in with Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, the first-choice back three, all being out of contract from the summer.
If any of them, particularly Rudiger and Christensen, are dealing with contract issues when they should be resting, then there will be an inevitable drop-off. It might only be the tiniest of fractions but, for elite players, it can still make a difference.
No club is going to be held to ransom, of course, but the Blues face a stark choice with Rudiger and Christensen.
They can try to bring in replacements next month, with no guarantees they’ll hit the ground running.
They can play out the season with men who know their futures are elsewhere.
Or they can agree now to pay them what they want and expect calmer performances from calmer minds.
If Chelsea want to keep the
Premier League a three-horse race beyond January, only one of those options looks like it’s viable to me.
If Chelsea are to stay the course in the title hunt they will have to shore things up at the back – and fast