Sadly, former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has hit the nail on the top together with his newest feedback about Chelsea’s points over the previous few years.
Frank Leboeuf was one of many gamers who I’d in all probability listing inside my high ten gamers who I loved most while watching Chelsea after I was rising up. He performed the sport with ease and with class. His lengthy passing imaginative and prescient and swap balls had been a factor of magnificence, an actual majestic participant but in addition a superb captain and a superb chief. He knew the sport properly and will learn it completely. His footballing thoughts has at all times been clear for all to see. He performed with bravery and was by no means afraid to hit that move.
Because of this I recognize listening to his views on the sport nonetheless now, and he’s delivered some damning phrases on Chelsea not too long ago.
Frank Leboeuf: “Though Chelsea’s construct up play is getting higher below Graham Potter as a result of they’re extra vertical than they had been below Thomas Tuchel, they nonetheless appear extra fascinated about maintaining the ball somewhat than hurting the opposition.
“That appears to be the thoughts body, not shedding the ball somewhat than risking an incisive move. Lots of backwards and sideways passes with no threat and the stats will present a excessive move completion ratio however I need to see extra progressive passing.
“My major concern for Chelsea is I don’t see many gamers who will threat lacking a move and play extra vertically. Every thing is just too calculated. Soccer is a sport of instinct in an effort to make one thing particular occur and shock the defence.
“It’s been the identical drawback for the final three years, offering a provide line to permit somebody to persistently rating targets. Chelsea have tried Romelu Lukaku and it didn’t work out and now it’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“The issue is that Chelsea don’t persistently serve them as a result of the soccer they play is extra horizontal passes and maintaining possession somewhat than making an attempt to attain targets shortly like Liverpool do for instance.”
That is precisely it. These have been our points for the final three or 4 seasons at the very least. The nail on the top bit is gamers not desirous to take dangers. Chelsea finally do lack the standard to do that frequently, on the entire.
We now have all seen that our forwards have lacked the service. Timo Werner used to make the runs on a weekly foundation, at all times being ignored. Identical factor with Romelu Lukaku, and once more now with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, as Leboeuf has talked about.
Picture by Robin Jones/Getty Picture
Every thing is calculated, as Frank says. We’re too predictable. Once we play the 3-4-3, we’re too predictable.
However the backside line is that we now have lacked the standard to open up defences and play fast one contact soccer. No person has needed to take the accountability to make that killer move or take gamers on. As a result of for me, creativity isn’t simply from making passes, it’s additionally gamers beating two or three males without delay and opening it up. We now have just a few gamers who can try this, however once more, they only aren’t doing it sufficient and we want extra.
Once I learn these quotes, every thing appeared so clearly true to me, and to many different of us followers. So why has it not been apparent to managers, coaches, and homeowners at Chelsea over the past 4 years? This has held us again immensely.
