There have been encouraging signs at Chelsea of late with positive results against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester City, which could suggest the Blues are finally progressing
Heading into their FA Cup fourth round replay against Villa, there was an all too familiar feeling of negativity around the club, having lost 4-1 to Liverpool and then followed that up with a 4-2 defeat against Wolves.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s side put in a performance not befitting of a team that had conceded eight in the space of a week, controlling the match at Villa Park in a dominant 3-0 victory.
They followed it up by showing fight and character to come back from behind to beat Palace 3-1 despite a disappointing first-half performance, and then consolidated those two wins with a robust display away at Manchester City, securing a 1-1 draw at the reigning champions.
Two wins and a draw is not exactly a reason to get carried away, but it has been a rarity that the club have put together a sustained run of form since their current ownership group took over. Their 1-0 win over Fulham in January saw the Blues win three Premier League games in a row for the first time since October 2022, and that was followed by those two disastrous results against Liverpool and Wolves.
Putting those two defeats aside, Chelsea fans have had reason to feel more positive however, and with an EFL Cup final against Liverpool looming, this weekend could prove to be pivotal for Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea’s future.
Is this the turning point Chelsea fans have been waiting for? Here are some of the reasons behind why the tide might finally be starting to turn at Stamford Bridge…
Injured players have started to return
Chelsea still have a big squad, something you would expect when a club spends north of £1bn on new signings over the course of three transfer windows, but absences in the dressing room this season have been just as damaging as the quality that was missing on the pitch.
Pochettino’s squad is the youngest in the Premier League, with an average age of 23.7, and at one point in the season the Chelsea boss had 11 players sidelined.
Two of those injuries were to captain Reece James and vice-captain Ben Chilwell, some of Chelsea’s most experienced players alongside Raheem Sterling and Thiago Silva. The injuries to the senior players meant that when Chelsea hit a rough patch, there was a lack of of experienced characters within the dressing room and on the pitch that could bring the squad together.
Along with the absences of Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana, who have missed large parts of the season, building relationships between some of Chelsea’s big money additions has been extremely difficult.
But as players have started to return to training, it has allowed Pochettino to help a newly-formed squad merge and forge partnerships. Chilwell is yet to hit his best form since coming back but is nonetheless a boost to Chelsea, while the option of Nkunku up top is a valuable addition for the Chelsea boss.
Consistency of selection helping Chelsea
Embed from Getty ImagesAs the injuries continued to mount amid a hectic footballing schedule, Pochettino was rarely able to start the same 11 players consecutively.
But in these last three games, there have been some constant presences. Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Conor Gallagher have been able to complement each other in midfield, which has allowed Chelsea to have a much stronger grip on games.
Against Manchester City, Gallagher was tasked with countering Rodri’s threat, while Fernandez’s passing ability helped to break down City and constantly caused them issues.
There was plenty of excitement when Chelsea bought Caicedo to pair with Enzo, which was a partnership that, on paper, looked to make plenty of sense. And while they have not made the impact fans were hoping for so far, their midfield combination has looked a lot more encouraging of late.
The two appear to be linking up more and playing closer together, which has helped to achieve a better balance in Chelsea’s team.
Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson were also able to pose a threat towards the backline of the reigning champions, and if Pochettino can integrate Nkunku into his attack then Chelsea will continue to develop even further.
Disasi’s upturn in form
Embed from Getty ImagesBehind the midfield three, central defender Axel Disasi showed not just a strong reading of the game, but a passion that was missing in Chelsea’s squad last year, celebrating tackles and clearances as if he had scored a goal.
After some difficult moments this season, the 25-year-old is starting to look like an accomplished defender for the Blues. He provides the athleticism and aggression that Pochettino’s way of playing requires and has been an ever present under the Chelsea boss recently, with his performances rewarding his manager for the faith he has shown him.
Gusto filling the void left by James
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Reece James injured himself again soon after returning to the team, there were concerns about what it would mean for Pochettino’s side. But Malo Gusto’s recent form at right-back has eased those worries completely, and James now faces a battle to win his place back when he does eventually regain his fitness.
Gusto is a confident defender out wide, bar the odd error or lapse in concentration, and also offers plenty going forward in the wide areas. At just 20, Chelsea look to have a real player on their hands and he has played a huge part in the positives the Blues have had this season.
A cup could be the key
Although a slight upturn in form, this recent Chelsea side has shown that with every rise there must come a fall, and with European qualification through the league almost a write-off, this final offers them a chance of continental football in the form of the Europa Conference League.
It is far away from where Chelsea fans, players and staff want, or expect, the club to be but if they can bring a trophy and European football heading into next season after what has, ultimately, been another disappointing campaign, it will give this young squad much-needed confidence and could prove crucial for the club’s future ambitions.
