Chelsea’s recent 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge highlighted several key issues for the Blues.
Defensive Vulnerabilities
Chelsea’s defense appeared disorganized, especially in the first half. Ipswich capitalized on this, with Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson scoring two goals in the first half. For both goals, it felt like the defense had fallen asleep. The Blues’ backline struggled to contain Ipswich’s counter-attacks, raising concerns about their defensive solidity.
Midfield Control
Once again, Chelsea has much of the ball, especially in the first half, but they failed to do anything with it. It’s becoming the norm in their games. The Blues had a lot of possession and threatened to score but none of the chances were converted. Enzo and Caicedo did a good job of controlling the game, which worked in line with Maresca’s plan, but they need to work on being direct with the ball.
Lack of Clinical Finishing
Despite creating opportunities, Chelsea’s forwards were wasteful in front of goal. Jadon Sancho’s stunning equalizer salvaged a point, but the team needs to be more efficient in converting chances to secure wins.
This draw deals a blow to Chelsea’s Champions League aspirations, highlighting the need for improvements in defense, midfield control, and finishing.
