‘Chaos-ball’ by Chelsea – the brand-new way to play football. Is it sustainable? Absolutely not? Is it entertaining? Absolutely. Do Chelsea supporters want to see it? Not against Sheffield United.
After the drama and pandemonium that unfolded at Stamford Bridge less than 72 hours before on Thursday night, Mauricio Pochettino knew that the result would only really matter if his side could follow that up with another three points at Bramall Lane. And for about half an hour, that looked as if it was going to be the case.
Oli McBurnie, however, levelled the match on 93 minutes to earn the Blades, who are rock-bottom of the Premier League table, a point against Chelsea. It is another painfully frustrating match for the Blues, who led twice in Sheffield, where their mentalities and personalities will be questioned.
Pochettino was one of those asking questions: “Maybe this group is still not mature enough to compete in every game every three days. Maybe these types of games are tougher because in your preparation, maybe because, like you say, Sheffield are in the relegation zone.
“We need to think a little bit. I’m not saying we’re not being respectful, but we need to think a little bit more. As a coach, I need to think. If I am a player, I need to think.”
The 20-man match day squad had an average age of less than 24-years-old. So one of those things Pochettino refers to that the club might need is certainly experience. “Finding the balance” is often referred to by the Argentine but when it comes to ages within the squad, there is not too much balance at all.
READ MORE: Every word Mauricio Pochettino said on Chelsea draw, maturity, Silva future and Palmer fitness
READ MORE: Chelsea player ratings vs Sheffield United: Madueke stunner, Palmer quiet, Petrovic mistake
And with the most experienced head in Thiago Silva, who opened the scoring for Chelsea against Sheffield United, looking destined to leave at the end of the season when his contract expires, the average age of the squad is about to decrease drastically. Chelsea will assess the situation with their squad ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino said as much. He said: “Always when the end of the season arrives, we need to analyse the squad and what we are missing and try to add people with the capacity to provide what we are seeing today, to improve in the next seasons.”
It remains to be seen whether that will be with Pochettino still as head coach, though, with football.london understanding the Blues boss will see his position reviewed in the summer. That has always been the plan since he was appointed less than 12 months ago.
The players do seem to still be fighting for the Argentine, despite another poor result on the road. Cole Palmer, who had an uncharacteristically off-day at Bramall Lane, is one of those who constantly shows just how much he cares whenever he is on the pitch representing the club.
Palmer was used centrally in the draw with the Blades – something that perhaps does not suit his ridiculous skillset as much as when he is drifting onto his left foot from the right flank. He was withdrawn after 74 minutes with a slight concern over his fitness after he picked up a knock during the win against Manchester United less than three days before.
“No, no, no,” Pochettino told football.london when asked if Palmer was hurt when leaving the field, with the Chelsea No.20 on the receiving end of a nasty tackle from Jack Robinson in the second-half. “I think he was tired. My feeling was he was tired.
“[It was] 2-1 for us, Carney [Chukwuemeka] is another No.10 who can play there and do the job. Yes, I think we are happy with him. We need to protect him.
“He got a knock against Manchester United and was a little bit more tired than normal, but we wanted to protect him after scoring the second goal. Trying to avoid a problem for the future.”
Palmer’s influence on the team is perhaps even more noticeable when he is not quite on it on the pitch. Chelsea lacked the attacking threat they do pose when the 21-year-old is pulling the strings, or shooting at any given opportunity.
Saying that, he did provide the assist for Madueke’s goal in the second period. And as well as that, he was having an influence on his teammates in other ways. Perhaps ways you may not associate with Palmer.
Axel Disasi was being used at right-back on Sunday evening, with Malo Gusto not travelling with the rest of the squad simply because he was being rested, football.london understands. Disasi is naturally a centre-back, so filling in as a full-back, who have to attack just as much as they defend in the modern game, was always going to be a massively demanding role for the Frenchman.
At times in the first-half in particular, Madueke, playing in front of Disasi on the right-hand side, was left rather isolated with two Sheffield United players ganging up on him to reduce his threat. If Gusto was playing, this would not have been anywhere near as much of a problem because the Frenchman loves to bomb forward and provide an overlapping option.
Disasi, though, is way more reserved in that sense. But Palmer was trying to tell his teammate that he needed to get forward more to help Madueke and in turn, create more space for the rest of the Chelsea team. Take another player out of the game.
Palmer clearly shouted at Disasi and pointed at where he needed to be. A couple of moments later, when Disasi still was not in the position Palmer wanted him in, the winger once again tried to grab his attention to give him some clear instructions.
It shows a leadership skill that perhaps we don’t usually associate with the England international. And if you needed another reason to adore Palmer – well, there it is.
Adoration is probably not something Chelsea supporters have too much of, though, at the moment because it was, on Sunday, another game that leaves you with more questions than answers in a Chelsea sense. Why can’t they get themselves up for games against the worst teams in the division? It makes little to no sense.
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