Reece James’ apprehensions are evident for Graham Potter as four crucial choices for the Chelsea lineup present themselves.
Chelsea must gain momentum moving into their Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, but Graham Potter must make several difficult selections.
On average, Chelsea performs poorly at the London Stadium. Two victories have been recorded in seven trips to West Ham United’s most recent home; one of those triumphs is marked with an asterisk because it was achieved without fans present because to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Antonio Conte, Frank Lampard, and Thomas Tuchel experienced loss in east London. And Maurizio Sarri’s sole visit during his tenure as manager resulted in a scoreless tie. Saturday will be Graham Potter’s turn as he continues his efforts to steer Chelsea’s campaign.
After 21 Premier League games, the Blues are in seventh. After adding Benoit Badiashile, Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Joao Felix to the first-team roster during a lavish January transfer window, expectations have only risen.
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The optimistic Chelsea fan will note that Potter’s squad is unbeaten in their last three matches. The realist will point out that the Blues have only won one of their last seven matches in all competitions and have failed to score goals since the season resumed following the World Cup.
There are easier opportunities to generate momentum than against West Ham, and Potter must ensure that some key players are not overworked for the opening leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund in nine days. There is a need for balance, and NationSpy has identified four important questions for the Chelsea head coach.
How much time does James have?
There are just a handful of Chelsea players as influential as Reece James. This is why his injury-related absences over the past year have had such a significant impact. Without the academy graduate guarding the right side, the Blues lose a significant amount of offensive potential.
On Friday evening, the 23-year-old made his latest return against Fulham. James played 60 minutes in the scoreless tie because any more would have been too risky. “We are cautious with him because we must build him up,” Potter explained. “This is a difficult feat in the Premier League, but it is where we now stand. It’s a good thing he received some playing time.”
James will undergo a full week of training prior to Saturday’s match against West Ham. The England international’s minutes will need to be limited, however, since the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund is just four days away.
James should start the game on the bench and be introduced in the second period. The problem is that Chelsea will be weaker regardless of who enters the team. Nobody possesses the same abilities as James. Well, until the summer arrival of Malo Gusto.
Thiago Silva will be named Chelsea’s Player of the Year unless something extraordinary occurs in the remaining games of the season. At 38 years of age, it’s not simple for the Brazilian to put on defensive clinics every time he gets onto the field.
Silva has played 2,088 minutes for Chelsea’s first-team despite his advanced age, which is more outstanding than any other player on the roster. There will, however, be a breaking point, and Potter must prevent the Brazil international from reaching it.
Therefore, Silva’s rest versus West Ham may be considered. Benoit Badiashile is not registered for the Champions League, so he will almost probably start at the London Stadium; whoever is expected to join Silva in Dortmund could be given a run-out to get match-ready.
N’Golo Kante has been hurt. Denis Zakaria too. Mateo Kovacic was also absent for the draw against Fulham. Jorginho is no longer a Chelsea player, since he has transferred to Arsenal. Therefore, it is difficult for Potter to select a two- or three-man midfield, even before analyzing the form of the available players.
Mason Mount began again on Friday night, but he looked psychologically fatigued. Conor Gallagher is the polar opposite, yet the England international performs best when granted permission to enter the penalty area. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has recently returned from injury, while 18-year-old Lewis Hall is still adjusting to professional football.
It is realistic to assume that Chelsea’s record acquisition Enzo Fernandez will start against West Ham. And it may be time for Potter to provide Carney Chukwuemeka with a second chance. The 19-year-old has contributed positively for the Blues this season, albeit primarily from the bench.
Only three goals have been scored by Chelsea in their past seven games. This is an extremely dismal record that need rapid improvement. Kai Havertz is not solely responsible for this lack of ruthlessness — he scored against Crystal Palace – but he is not a consistent goal scorer.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has a much more impressive résumé, but the 33-year-old has lost his starting position under Potter and was dropped from the Champions League roster last week. His long-term outlook at Stamford Bridge is deteriorating.
The alternative candidate is David Datro Fofana. The Ivory Coast international made a significant contribution off the bench against Fulham and will be hoping to start at the London Stadium. His all-around game is still immature, but he possesses the instincts of a number nine, something Chelsea’s offense has frequently lacked.
