While Premier League football returned to Stamford Bridge on Sunday after Axel Disasi ensured Chelsea recorded a draw against Liverpool, and some enthusiasm returned to west London, it is actions after the match that are likely to dominate most headlines.
Chelsea have agreed a fee for Moises Caicedo after weeks of deliberations and competition from Liverpool, Monday could see the Ecuador international finally arrive.
There was evidence that Caicedo was needed against Liverpool, with Conor Gallagher asked to play in the deepest midfield position. The Blues struggled to establish their pressing in the opening stages of the game, before Gallagher ultimately put in a pretty good performance.
Mauricio Pochettnio denied his side required more solidity, after a performance in which his side conceded just one short on target. However, he admitted that his squad would be improved.
He said in his press conference: “We need good players, yes. We need to improve the squad, yes. But that is not new. We are working very hard, I am so happy in the way that we are working with Laurence and Paul and the owners.
“For sure we are going to improve the squad. It is about finding the right profile, the right player to create a combination maybe where we are more solid. But the team was solid, we conceded only one shot on target against Liverpool. I don’t know if we can be more solid than the 100 minutes we played today.”
Releasing Enzo Fernandez has been a priority and against the Reds, Pochettino decided to do that even without Caicedo’s presence. With Gallagher at the base of midfield, Fernandez was released to hint at the talent he has in more advanced positions.
The Argentina international played more passes into the final third and more passes into the opposition box than anyone else on the pitch. Caicedo does not come cheap at a possible £115million but some of that fee is to unlock Fernandez’s true potential.
Just the beginning
With both teams still uncertain of how their squads will look come the end of the transfer window, it is unsurprising there was still an element of each finding their best form. The game ebbed and flowed as each side show moments of sloppy play, and in many ways it is still difficult to establish where each side truly is.
In particular for Chelsea however, this is just the beginning. Something Pochettino made clear.
He said: “It is only the first step. I am so pleased but we are far away from what we expect and want from them. We are going to push every day to take them to every area, every single relationship, individual and collective we need to be better and better and better.”
It’s something the players clearly understand too however. Fernandez was assertive in ensuring Carney Chukwuemeka applied himself to his role properly, while in one stoppage, Nicolas Jackson was in an animated conversation with the January arrive, while simultaneously Axel Disasi and Robert Sanches were having a first team debrief.
However, the knowledge shared between plays will be growing, to the extent Ben Chilwell, who appears to be the club’s vice-captain after taking the armband from Reece James. He spoke to football.london about taking responsibility this season and inspiring confidence in his teammates and that is well underway with Disasi.
“We did set pieces the day before the game as you usually do and he put all the deliveries away,” Chilwell said to Sky Sports. “I said he would score, he said he would love to so we manifested it.”
Disasi returned: “Chilly, yesterday he told me that I will score today, so I’m very happy, very proud of the team because in the second half we played good football and I think we deserved to win. I like to stay in the box when we attack. I hope in future I will score lots of goals.”
It’s little wonder that in celebrating his teammate’s debut strike that Chilwell put a hand on each of Disasi’s cheeks and shouted in his face. He was making sure his message was put across, and what a start for the new central defender.
Players heading out
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s absence and Pochettino’s comments have all but confirmed that he will leave the west London side this summer. It would be understandable if there was some frustration given the Blues have undertaken so much preparation with the Spanish stopper, but given Chelsea’s attempts to find a new home for Kepa, in recent seasons, it is perhaps understandable that they are open to the opportunity, even if it is only a loan deal.
Pochettino noted: “He has to explore different situations and possibilities. Yesterday we were talking and for us the decision is to have all of the players that are committed to Chelsea for the season and that is why he was not in the squad.”
Those words perhaps all indicate a hint at another future in the squad. While the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja were in the stands due to injury, Lewis Hall’s absence from the squad did not go unnoticed.
The 18-year-old appears set to head out on loan, with Crystal Palace the most likely destination and his lack of involvement could indicate the club are ensuring he avoids injury or that a temporary move is pretty close.
