Having lost to Manchester United in the previous season’s Champions League, Chelsea need to change things around in order to have a chance at winning the trophy.
Here is what they could do:
Reduce the average age of the team
It is no secret that Chelsea has one of the older squads in the Premier League. With important players like Anelka, Drogba, Lampard, Malouda, Cole and Terry past their prime, this might be the summer of rebuilding at SW6.
The problem with Chelsea is that they do not have replacements for most of these key players and this was evident last season when Lampard was on the sidelines. The Blues rely heavily on the 33-year old and time has come to find a younger but equally talented playmaker.
In addition to this, they also need a right back, as Jose Bosingwa is not a good defender and while Ivanovic is solid defensively, he doesn’t offer much going forward.
Also a backup for Cech would not hurt as Hilario, at 35, is just not good enough.
Find the creative spark to unlock El Nino’s goal scoring threat
On his day, with the required supply, Fernando Torres is the best striker in world football.
However, without the supply, he looks very ordinary. He has yet to justify his heavy price tag and it looks like he would continue to be frustrated if the service he is getting from the midfield continues.
Chelsea look woeful when they are chasing a game and seem devoid of ideas when it comes to unlocking a mean defence.
They are in desperate need of a creative midfielder like a Modric or a Sneijder who can give this stale Chelsea side some much needed spark and flair.
Get McEachran and Sturridge into the first team
Josh McEachran was the silver lining for Chelsea in an otherwise dismal campaign. He was very cool under pressure and his passing was first class.
His inclusion into the team would also lead to better performances from players like Essien and Lampard, who would know that their starting a game would not be a given anymore.
Sturridge, on the other hand was brilliant for Bolton on a loan spell, scoring eight goals in 12 games. He is fast, good on the ball and has the required eye for the goal.
He certainly deserves a chance and would only increase Chelsea’s already potent attack.
Give the manager time to build a team
Seven managers in eight years is not the type of record, a club as big as Chelsea would like to have. Sacking Ancelotti was a mistake and it damaged the club’s reputation.
Success doesn’t come instantly. To win the Champions League, Chelsea has to give the new manager at least two or three years in order to bring some much needed stability. Abramovich has to stop changing managers at will and success will follow.
Change the style of play
Chelsea, since the Mourinho era, have been associated with a defensive style of football. While this has made them successful in the domestic competitions in the last decade, against quality opposition in Europe they have come up short.
Football is fast becoming more and more attacking with the “Tiki Taka” replacing the “Catenaccio” as the most successful football tactic today, employed by both Spain and FC Barcelona.
With the kind of players Chelsea have, they definitely have the ability to turn on the style and may finally find success in Europe.
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Frankly, it was a bad look for Hayes. She appears like a grumpy and frustrated manager as her tenure at Chelsea is coming to an end.
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