Today News Journal
    What's Hot

    DOJ sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment in Ohio

    March 31, 2023

    Social Security funding crisis will arrive in 2033, U.S. projects

    March 31, 2023

    Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to lay off 85 percent of staff

    March 31, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Today News Journal
    Contact Us
    • Home
    • Trending
    • Business
    • Health
    • Technology
      • Automobile
      • Gadgets
      • Mobiles
      • Robotics
    • Lifestyle
      • Culture
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Editorials
    • News
      • Politics
    Today News Journal
    Home » Sports » Lavish spending could yet elevate Chelsea but consistency is a concern | Chelsea
    Sports

    Lavish spending could yet elevate Chelsea but consistency is a concern | Chelsea

    James MartinBy James MartinFebruary 15, 2023No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    Chelsea are unrecognisable from 12 months ago. This time last year they were owned by a Russian oligarch, had a manager whose charisma had supporters hanging off his every word, and had just become champions of the world.

    Even looking at the team that started against Palmeiras in the final of the Club World Cup feels like stepping into another age. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who got an assist that night, was at left wing-back and Romelu Lukaku led the attack. Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen were in central defence. Malang Sarr and Saúl Ñíguez came off the bench.

    It was a different kind of club. Chelsea were nailed on to finish in the top four of the Premier League, hopeful of beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and confident of another strong run in the Champions League. Problems felt surmountable. Back then the drama was Lukaku – the £97.5m final piece in the jigsaw – managing seven touches when Chelsea beat Crystal Palace a week after their triumph over Palmeiras.

    How things have changed. From the team that faced Palmeiras, only two started when Chelsea drew at West Ham last Saturday: Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva. Others have either gone, fallen prey to injury or, in the case of Mason Mount, been dropped.

    It makes Chelsea, who visit Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night, something of an enigma at the moment. Sanctions forced Roman Abramovich to sell to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who quickly replaced Thomas Tuchel with Graham Potter.

    The owners fancied a calmer presence in the dugout. On Saturday, after Chelsea saw appeals for a late penalty against West Ham waved away, there was no fury with the officials. “That’s life,” Potter said, shrugging it off and moving on.

    Chelsea’s head coach would not erupt. That was left to the television pundits who wondered whether such a measured response was evidence that Potter is not cut out for elite management. In the real world, meanwhile, there was a degree of gratitude at a manager refusing to push the blame for a disappointing result on to a referee.

    The other side to the argument is that the pundits who criticised Potter played for top managers. Imagine how previous Chelsea coaches would have responded. Tuchel, Antonio Conte and José Mourinho would have controlled the narrative and tried to make their players feel a burning sense of injustice. That is simply how it goes with the best coaches; their behaviour might not always be particularly mature, but the thing about winners is that they aren’t wired like the rest of us.

    Potter, by contrast, seems more normal. He has joined from Brighton & Hove Albion. It is quite the gear change from Chelsea. In the past Chelsea were pugnacious, combative and defiant. Now they seem flat.

    João Félix celebrates scoring Chelsea’s goal against West Ham with teammate Enzo Fernández.
    João Félix and Enzo Fernández will have a big say in whether Chelsea can put together a strong end-of-season run. Photograph: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images

    Chelsea are 10th in the league before the first leg of their tie with Edin Terzic’s increasingly assured Dortmund. The squad is a jumble. The owners have overseen a spend of more than £500m and, for all the excitement over eight players joining in January, there are a lot of egos to placate.

    When Chelsea handed their revised squad list to Uefa for the knockout stages of the Champions League there was no room for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Only three of the new players could be registered, so there was no place for Benoît Badiashile, who has formed an excellent partnership in central defence with Silva.

    Dortmund, whose biggest threat will come from Jude Bellingham, will be glad to see Badiashile missing. Taking the Frenchman’s place could be Kalidou Koulibaly, who has not been trusted to start since Chelsea’s defeat by Fulham on 12 January.

    skip past newsletter promotion

    Sign up to Football Daily

    Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football

    Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    after newsletter promotion

    That makes Chelsea weaker, potentially forcing Potter to switch to a back three. Mateo Kovacic and Denis Zakaria are back, Raheem Sterling is absent again, and more chopping and changing is inevitable. Once again, even with Enzo Fernández looking smooth in midfield and João Félix dazzling up front, the question is whether Chelsea can develop a consistent rhythm.

    Coherence eluded them against West Ham and the flux has been summed up by the odd vibes between Marc Cucurella and Mykhaylo Mudryk. Cucurella, who has struggled at left-back since his £62m move from Brighton, heard the fans cheering his substitution against West Ham. There was no sign of any understanding on Chelsea’s left flank. Time and again Mudryk would make a run behind the West Ham defence and look for the ball, only for Cucurella to ignore the winger, check back and play a safe pass inside.

    Mudryk, signed last month for £88.8m, was frustrated with the lack of service. The Ukrainian later liked – then unliked – an Instagram post mocking Cucurella. It is a potential headache for Potter as he continues his patient rebuild.

    The former Brighton manager would surely prefer to focus on Chelsea’s bright football during the opening 20 minutes against West Ham. The goal, made by Fernández and scored by Félix, saw two of the new players combine. The lavish spending could yet elevate Chelsea. Money alone means they are favourites to beat Dortmund and it should not be forgotten that Chelsea’s two Champions League triumphs, in 2012 and 2021, came during disappointing league seasons.

    Whether that defiance belongs to a forgotten era remains to be seen.



    Source link

    Related posts:

    1. Netherlands v England: third ODI – live! | Netherlands cricket team
    2. Cameron Norrie digs deep to sink David Goffin and reach semi-final | Wimbledon 2022
    3. Both Hull clubs represented in Fiji World Cup side as Korbin Sims and Joe Lovodua earn call-ups
    4. Netherlands v Ecuador: World Cup 2022 – live | World Cup 2022
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
    Previous ArticleVideo shows New Zealand pilot taken hostage by heavily armed rebel group in remote Papua region
    Next Article Apple’s pay later service approval might depend on your purchase history
    James Martin
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Yorkshire racism allegations: Vaughan cleared, three charges against Hoggard considered proven – live | Yorkshire

    March 31, 2023

    Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers era is over. But is Jordan Love any good? | Green Bay Packers

    March 31, 2023

    Hull KR must not fall into derby trap as Leeds Rhinos clash offers big incentive

    March 31, 2023

    Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend | Premier League

    March 30, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Search
    Categories
    • Automobile
    • Business
    • Coronavirus
    • Culture
    • Editorials
    • Finance
    • Gadgets
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Mobiles
    • Money
    • News
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Travel
    • Trending
    • World
    Latest Posts

    DOJ sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment in Ohio

    March 31, 2023

    Social Security funding crisis will arrive in 2033, U.S. projects

    March 31, 2023

    Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to lay off 85 percent of staff

    March 31, 2023

    Yorkshire racism allegations: Vaughan cleared, three charges against Hoggard considered proven – live | Yorkshire

    March 31, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Don't Miss
    News

    DOJ sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment in Ohio

    By James MartinMarch 31, 20230

    Comment on this storyCommentThe Justice Department filed a major civil suit Friday against Norfolk Southern…

    Social Security funding crisis will arrive in 2033, U.S. projects

    March 31, 2023

    Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to lay off 85 percent of staff

    March 31, 2023

    Yorkshire racism allegations: Vaughan cleared, three charges against Hoggard considered proven – live | Yorkshire

    March 31, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    About Us

    Hello friends, I am James Martin. Welcome to my blog todaynewsjournal.com. We are a team of experienced journalists who are passionate about delivering the latest news and current events to our readers. Our editorial team is dedicated to providing the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. We aim to be your go-to source for news and current events. Here on this site, You will get up to date information regarding all important categories like business ideas, health tips,... (Read More)

    Latest News

    DOJ sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment in Ohio

    March 31, 2023

    Social Security funding crisis will arrive in 2033, U.S. projects

    March 31, 2023

    Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to lay off 85 percent of staff

    March 31, 2023
    SIGN UP NEWSLETTER

    Join The Conversation sign up to receive emails for The Daily special tips general info.

      Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
      • Home
      • Editorials
      • Get In Touch

      Copyright © 2021-2023 · Today News Journal Privacy Policy

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
      Cookie SettingsAccept All
      Manage consent

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      SAVE & ACCEPT

      Sign In or Register

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below.

      Lost password?