3 Takeaways From Chelsea Club World Cup Win

Newly minted UEFA Conference League winners Chelsea took the field yesterday for their FIFA Club World Cup opener against LA Galaxy. With the Blues fielding a strong lineup, the game was expected to be one-way traffic. The margin of victory probably wouldn’t be similar to Bayern Munich’s over Auckland City FC, but Enzo Maresca would have expected his men to dominate from start to finish. 

That wasn’t the case. Perhaps it was the searing heat or the sparse attendance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium that caused the Londoners’ sluggish start. Or are the players still reeling from the exertions of a long Premier League season? Despite not being at their best, Chelsea managed to impose themselves on their opponents, eking out a 2-0 win. Here are some conclusions we drew from the encounter.

Is Liam Delap the Answer?

He had just about half an hour to make an impression on the game and give Maresca a reason to rejig his front three for the coming season. Did he do enough to convince as a long-term replacement for Nicholas Jackson? Not really. He undoubtedly injected fresh energy into Chelsea’s attack when he came on, jolting the Galaxy defenders out of their slumber. 

Delap’s clever run to the right wing put him in a position to receive Cole Palmer’s pass and deliver the cross that Enzo Fernandez bundled home for the Blues’ second goal. So the former Ipswich man brought on energy and an assist in just 30 minutes on the field. This is no different than what Jackson offered in his hour of play. Which begs the question, is Delap really that much of an upgrade?

The Left-Wing Problem 

With Maresca choosing not to make Jadon Sancho’s loan deal permanent, the left-wing berth is Noni Madueke’s to lose. Or is it? The Blues boss appears keen on getting a Sancho replacement, hence the kerfuffle about signing Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund. The move for the English left-winger was meant to be done and dusted before the CWC begun but the Chelsea bigwigs will now have to pursue a plan B. 

From Madueke’s inconsistent and ultimately ineffectual display, Maresca pursuit of another winger is justified. There were moments early in the first half when the Chelsea number 11 looked a real threat, combining neatly with Jackson. But his decision-making let him down at some crucial moments. 19 year-old Tyrique George was given the chance to show himself worthy of the role but he failed to get a foothold on the game. So yes, those dollars will need to be spent.

Is Chelsea Still a Favorite?

On yesterday’s display, it’s hard to still look at the Blues as tournament favorites. They had the lion’s share of the ball and goal attempts but by no means did they outclass their MLS opponents. Neutral observers will feel that if LA Galaxy just had a little more quality in the final third, the outcome would have been different. Perhaps if Olivier Giroud was the Giroud of Chelsea, Galaxy may have found an equalizer before the Blues doubled their lead.

A better test of Chelsea’s CWC credentials will come on Friday when they clash with Flamengo. The Mengão currently top the Brazilian Serie A and comfortably dispatched Tunisian side Espérance yesterday. Maresca will need to figure out how to best use the weapons at his disposal if he’s to reap maximum points from the encounter. A win will see Chelsea leapfrog the Rio de Janeiro outfit and claim top spot in Group D.

Final Thoughts

The teams that tend to win football tournaments tend to start slowly. The Blues will take comfort in this curious trend to encourage themselves for the coming games. But Maresca will also want to address his side’s shortcomings, especially in attack, as they grow into the tournament.