by Chelsea will play much worse than this and win. They certainly should – unless they have a centre-forward which is the perennial, nagging £1billion question at the club who have spent so much and signed so much in the transfer market and not so much of the their most basic players yet: their goalkeeper scorer.
The other reason is that they are even considering selling Conor Gallagher. Yes, the midfielder is a native academy player whose substantial transfer fee – if sold – would be banked as net profit and offset against other expenses but on this evidence it is absolutely necessary.
The 23-year-old captain set up a relentlessly impressive press and hunted Aston Villa, Clement Lenglet clearly and correctly targeted as the weak link in defence, but it was Chelsea’s lack of leadership – and some fine goalkeeping from Emiliano Martinez – saw this tie end goalless, forcing a replay at Villa Park to secure a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
“We weren’t clinical enough,” said Mauricio Pochettino and the Chelsea head coach was absolutely right. “But we created chances and we have to keep believing and move on now,” he said. When pressed on whether he needs another striker, Pochettino replied: “Of course we didn’t score but we created chances. I trust and believe in our players, for sure.”
But then what else could he say? Nicolas Jackson is at Chelsea at the Africa Cup of Nations and Christopher Nkunku is injured again but they clearly still need another center back. A move for Jhon Duran from Villa is being considered but he is injured, and Unai Emery has already made it clear that he does not want him to leave. However the forward may have irritated Villa fans by congratulating fellow Colombian Mayra Ramirez on social media on her move to Chelsea. That seemed to be pointed.
And then there is the Armando Broja conundrum. The 22-year-old academy product is surplus to requirements and up for sale, although Chelsea hope to achieve a £50million valuation for him, as he can only earn a place on their bench despite others to be missing, it’s a very ambitious thing. a mystery.
Broja came on late against Villa but didn’t get a chance. Instead, the main culprit was the player who was tasked with being the central striker: Cole Palmer. No one doubts Palmer’s influence and value since his £42.5 million move from Manchester City, and he is Chelsea’s top scorer this season, but he is not a number nine. And it showed.
In a first half booked by chances for Villa’s Youri Tielemans the main theme was Chelsea’s waste and Martinez’s challenge. “Great,” Emery said of his goalkeeper. “He saved us two or three times… Emiliano today, we needed him. And really he played like he is – number one.”
He did. But Chelsea’s lack of convictions helped; by the lack of killer instinct that makes the difference. It’s one thing to score six against a Championship side in Middlesbrough to secure a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, but it’s another to take your chances against a well-organised, dangerous side like Villa. So when the chances come they have to be taken.
Chelsea should have scored three times in the first half. Noni Madueke was blocked twice by Martinez, once by Martinez with an outstretched leg, the other by shooting into the goalkeeper’s body from close range, but it was Palmer who parried the best chance. Just like he did in the second half.
‘Palmar Cold’? Not on this evidence as the Gallagher-led press forced Lenglet into another mistake, allowing Palmer to intercept the centre-half’s poor pass inside the Villa penalty area. He had to score. Instead he was unconvinced and Martinez again struggled with his feet.
Then, in the second half, there was something even louder when Martinez’s way pass hit Palmer and brought the ball down. He had time and space but appeared to panic and gave up his attempt to control as he fired a weak shot that easily went past a relieved Martinez. That was poor.
So, despite Pochettino’s apparent faith it wouldn’t be a surprise if he shows this performance as Exhibit A when it comes to getting evidence of what he needs to make Chelsea better. There has been further evidence in recent weeks to support that they are improving. Can he be supported in the final days of the January transfer window? It might make a difference to a team that is starting to get so many of their components right.
And Villa? They haven’t played since January 14th and it showed at times. They will also focus on two smart saves from Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, notably from Matty Cash, but both sides will surely be happy with the goalless result.
