Chelsea Preseason Review: What did we learn from Leverkusen & Milan?

180 minutes of practice for a season that will almost certainly push 4,500 minutes is quite unfair, cruel, even. But merely 26 days after that glorious dismantling of PSG, Chelsea finished their preseason doing everything they could have within their grasp. Here are a few talking points from a highly condensed preseason before the action gets underway next week.

Depth

Seconds before the final whistle, Andrey Santos scanned to the right and saw the pass before anyone else did. He urgently called for the ball in the half-space and diverted the ball perfectly into the path of Liam Delap’s bazooka of a right foot. He placed it beyond the despairing dive of Mike Maignan, who in a parallel universe, would have been applauding that first-time finish from the other end of the pitch.

Last season Chelsea’s substitutes managed 12 G/A in the league when coming on from the bench. Brighton finished first on that metric, managing twice as many. 8 PL teams separated both those clubs, and considering the investment made last season, finishing 10^th for contributions from subs did not offer a glowing endorsement.

Against Milan, Delap and Santos only came off the bench at the hour mark, with Maresca keeping one eye on the Palace game in less than a week. Delap’s second, just like the second goal against Leverkusen, was scored and created by a substitute (Genesis Antwi for João Pedro.) A glance at Chelsea’s bench and subs offers just how things have changed – Milan and Leverkusen were both playing their 5^th game of the season, also their last before the start of their respective seasons. Leverkusen made 7 subs and were only able to call upon one senior, capped international in Victor Boniface. Milan made just the four, with Modric the only capped international. Chelsea in contrast made 10 vs Leverkusen and 9 vs Milan, 4 senior internationals in each game. Navigating a season that will push the squad to its physical and psychological brink will demand a similarly wise and judicious use of resources throughout the season from Maresca.

Right-side rotations

If Chelsea are to reclaim points dropped against stubborn back 5s last season, then the shape (or the lack of it) in the right-hand side will prove invaluable. Cole Palmer, Estevão, Pedro Neto is a trio comfortable holding width, drifting into the half-spaces or popping up in central positions. Maresca has recognized and empowered it. Reece James and Malo Gusto look to maraud on the outside, while Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos’ ability to thread passes into tight spaces is being utilized to make sense of those fluid rotations. The box runs add another element of chaos into the mix. It was Pedro Neto breaking free before clipping a lovely cross into the box for João Pedro’s goal vs Milan, then there was Estevão waiting at the far post to dispatch the loose ball in for the opener against Leverkusen. Gusto and Palmer’s interchanges in the CWC final took apart PSG. Moving Gusto away from inverting and back to bombing up the flank has also led to fewer errors. Strangely, chaos has brought about some calm to the right. The addition of Xavi Simons to the left would allow Maresca to mirror similar fluidity on the left.

Will the real LCB please stand up?

Levi Colwill’s ACL injury was a devastating blow to player, club and ambitions alike, and the conversation since has centered solely upon if Chelsea’s CB department are ready for the big time. Trevoh Chalobah rolled his ankle in a manner that often spells bad news, but according to Matt-Davies Adams, he was walking okay post the game, which is good news. Irrespective, it does highlight Chelsea’s fragility and frugality in the center of the defence. Wes Fofana has started 26 PL games for Chelsea in 3 years, each game costing the club nearly 3m, Benoit Badiashile has endured an injury and error-ridden time and two right footed CBs in Tosin and Trev playing on the left could cause a few issues. Will Chelsea throw themselves into the market again? Marc Guehi went off injured against Liverpool in the Community Shield, while any other deals could demand a significant investment. Friend of the pod & BBC correspondent Nizaar Kinsella, hinted that there could be faith placed in Josh Acheampong, but for now, the uncertainty a week before the league kicks off is a bit unnerving.

Yes, they are friendlies, but the win against Milan stretched the Blues’ winning run to seven games. They have had less than three weeks off after the Club World Cup final, certainly low on rest, recovery and respite but they arrived fresher and sharper than Leverkusen and Milan. That is what trophies do. Elsewhere, Liverpool were beaten on penalties against Crystal Palace, with Mo Salah missing a penalty in the shootout. The Egyptian talisman, who managed a staggering 47 G/A in the league last season, has 2 goals in his last 12 competitive appearances for Liverpool. Should the crown slip, Chelsea must feel they’re now well placed to claim it.