Chelsea and their defensive problems
They may be the top of the perch but by no means they are in imperious form and a recent run of form has suggested that they are as vulnerable as their counterparts. After the easiest of fixtures to start the campaign, Chelsea went flying past their lesser
opponents, scoring goals at will but the moment they came against a half decent side, they suffered their first defeat of the season against Manchester City. Recently, they struggled to beat Blackburn and only were humiliated by Sunderland last week.
Chelsea head into this weekend with their lead at the top cut to only two points for the first time this season and with a defensive crisis that may give Carlo Ancelotti a headache or two. Alex and Terry are both ruled out for a couple of weeks and with
a full back playing as a centre back in the last game, it only remains to be seen if Carlo decides to commit the same mistake twice.
Paulio Ferriera is a natural right back and yet Carlo decided to draft him alongside Terry at the heart of defence. What followed was clear for all and sundry to see. Asamoah Gyan and Co played havoc with the Chelsea backline and left Stamford Bridge with
their reputation enhanced.
Chelsea were quite in last summer’s transfer window with the number of players leaving the club higher than the arrivals and as the Premier League gets towards the business end of the season they are beginning to bear the ramifications of it.
Carlo Ancelotti was content with the lack of Blues' transfer activity as he thought that the youngsters coming out of the academy were good enough to be promoted to the senior squad. Although, most of his youngsters were given a run in the Carling Cup and
he was full of praises for the likes of Gael Kakuta, Wilfred Bruma and Josh Mceachran, it still remains to be seen if any of them are good enough to perform where it really matters.
Josh Mceachran is the only player for Chelsea who has been close to regular spot in the first team but he still has miles to go. At a time when Blues' defense is as depleted as it is, the focus is on the likes of Van Annholt, Bruma and Ferriera.
Chelsea are without their first choice central defence pairing of Alex and Terry and despite having Wilfred Bruma fit, Carlo opted for Ferriera to play against Sunderland.
It only suggested that either Carlo did not trust Bruma for Premier League or he wanted to give Ferriera a chance to prove that he can still play at the top.
But the real test will come this weekend and Carlo has a selection dilemma at hand. With Ferreira as miserable as he was against Sunderland, it only remains to be seen if Bruma will be promoted to the first team or Carlo will still opt for the old guard.
No matter who he decides to play in the defence, it is clear for all and sundry to see that there are chinks in the armour and the click goal scoring machine that boasts the best defensive record in the league is as frail as any other side in the league.
Manchester United had Carrick and Fletcher playing as their central defenders at one point last season and yet they came as close to one point of within Chelsea last season. Such was the depth and character of their squad but if Chelsea are able to do without
their best defenders or not, only remains to be seen.
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