'Crazy!' - Chelsea hammered after failing to fix obvious problem with £600m spend

Robin Bairner

• 16 Feb 2023 04:32 CST
• 3 min read

Chelsea’s 1-0 Champions League loss against Borussia Dortmund as the latest setback to the Stamford Bridge club and their ambitious project, which has seen them spend more than £600 million over the course of two transfer windows.

The Blues applied plenty of pressure against their Bundesliga opponents but find themselves going into the return leg trailing after Karim Adeyemi showed lightning speed and a cool head to outpace Enzo Fernandez before rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga to score the only goal.

It is a familiar tale for a Chelsea team that has now scored only four goals in nine games during 2023.

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Unsurprisingly, questions are being asked of their offensive record given the money that has been poured into the club.

“Considering Chelsea spent £600m and they don't have a centre-forward is just crazy and that game summed it up. They need someone who can put the ball into the back of the net,” former Bayern Munich, Manchester United and England international told BT Sport.

Indeed, Chelsea continue to persist with Kai Havertz leading their line, with the young Germany international have failed to find his feet since a move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020.

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'Not good enough'

Former Blues star Joe Cole says that what Chelsea are producing in attack is simply not up to scratch.

“There were patches of the game and moments where all the patterns of play; Joao Felix was getting on the ball, Kai Havertz was getting on the turn, and they looked good. But it's that final third, when you start not scoring goals - I think it's 23 in the Premier League - it's not good enough for where Chelsea want to be,” he said.

“When you start not scoring goals or your strikers aren't in form you start getting that anxiety building and they looked like a team that was anxious in front of goal.

“Snatching at things, easy chances are becoming more difficult. There were some positives and the game is still in the balance, we've all played European ties where we've lost the away leg 1-0 and you go and win the home leg, but in the circumstances, they'll be a disappointment that they didn't get a result tonight.”

Before the return match, Chelsea have Southampton, Tottenham and Leeds to play in the Premier League.