Chelsea’s THREE problems to fix – Neville
Robin Bairner
- 23 Oct 2023 07:03 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea might have turned in an improved performance on Saturday as they secured a 2-2 draw in the Premier League with undefeated Arsenal, but Gary Neville saw three things that manager Mauricio Pochettino still needs to fix at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have looked in better form of late, defeating Burnley 4-1 prior to the international break before picking up a point against their great rivals, yet they still sit 10th in the Premier League standings, well adrift of where they would typically expect to be.
And having held a 2-0 lead over the Gunners moving into the closing stages of the match, there should be more of a sense of disappointment around the outcome of the derby.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville identified three problem positions for the Blues.
“Chelsea have shown a blueprint of what the future could look like,” he explained.
“They've still got a problem up front, they haven't got a striker, and I still think they've got a problem with Thiago Silva’s age. He's so important for them, but he is 39. And then the goalkeeper Robert Sanchez… Can he step up to be a good goalkeeper?”
The Manchester United legend went on to praise certain areas of the team.
“You can see that midfield, and in wide areas, they are bright. The full-backs, Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto, did well today. And they are the second-choice full-backs, by the way,” he said.
Can Chelsea solve problems in January?
Chelsea have the January transfer window looming in which to fix some of their issues, yet having invested heavily in the areas where Neville suggests they need to improve, it remains to be seen how much business can be done during that period.
The Blues look likeliest to invest in a centre-forward, yet that is an area that is notoriously expensive to recruit in, and after lavish spending in each of the previous three windows, Chelsea face Financial Fair Play (FFP) considerations when it comes to making their transfer plans.
