Chelsea’s recent performances have been a bit shaky, to be honest. They’ve managed to scrape through with wins, like a narrow 1-0 victory against Leicester, a couple of 1-1 draws with Manchester United and Twente, and another unremarkable 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Under the guidance of manager Sonia Bompastor, the team has remained undefeated in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and has been pretty dominant in London derbies, winning 33 out of their last 39 games. However, their recent displays have been lacking in fluidity, cutting edge, and cohesion in the final third.
Struggled to convert chances: Against Spurs, Chelsea took a whopping 23 shots before finally managing to score, thanks to midfielder Keira Walsh’s brilliant long-range effort. But out of their 27 total attempts, only four were actually on target, highlighting a familiar issue of creating a lot of opportunities but failing to capitalize on them efficiently. The frustration grew as Chelsea squandered clear-cut chances throughout the game, struggling to find that killer instinct in front of goal.
Squad rotation and attacking woes: Chelsea’s attacking woes have been compounded by consistent squad rotation, with the starting XI changing for every game so far. With key players like striker Sam Kerr returning from a long injury layoff and others sidelined, the team has lacked a focal point in attack. While Aggie Beever-Jones has stepped up with four goals in six appearances, Chelsea often look toothless in central areas. Despite their attacking struggles, the team has shown resilience and a winning mentality, grinding out results even when not at their best. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like as long as they keep winning, does it really matter if they’re not clinical in front of goal?
Tottenham’s defensive improvements: On the other hand, Spurs have shown clear tactical and structural improvements under new boss Martin Ho, especially in their defensive organization. With four wins in six games, the team is on an upward trajectory and has prioritized building a more resilient defense. Last season, Spurs had one of the worst defensive records in the league, but now they sit fourth in the table after six games, showcasing their progress. Against Chelsea, Spurs were solid at the back, making numerous tackles and clearances to frustrate their opponents. Netherlands goalkeeper Lize Kop was particularly impressive, making crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Struggles in the final third: However, Tottenham’s improvements have mostly been confined to their defensive half, as they struggled to make an impact in attack against Chelsea. With only two shots on target and a lack of creativity in the final third, Spurs failed to test Chelsea’s goalkeeper significantly. While their passing accuracy has improved, much of it was sideways or backwards, showing a lack of incisiveness in their build-up play. Despite glimpses of intent in pressing situations, Spurs lacked the cutting edge needed to trouble Chelsea’s defense. The gap between the two sides lies in execution, with Chelsea’s ability to grind out results contrasting Spurs’ struggles to convert their defensive solidity into attacking threat.
In conclusion, Chelsea may not be firing on all cylinders in front of goal, but they continue to find ways to win games. Tottenham, on the other hand, are making strides under their new manager, focusing on improving their defensive stability. Maybe it’s just me, but Spurs need to work on their attacking prowess to match their defensive resilience and truly challenge the top teams in the league.
