One of the main reasons behind the massive £220 million summer spending by Chelsea was the absence of any killer instinct upfront in Frank Lampard’s debut season as a manager. Also, the 0-0 draw on Sunday against Tottenham now stands alongside a draw without a single goal at Manchester United and a 2-0 setback at home against Liverpool in downfall to score against the traditional ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League this time.
None of those outcomes is a tragedy in isolation. In the second game of the season, Liverpool’s defeat came, very early for Frank Lampard to fine-tune his starting line-up. Although Manchester United fluctuates between the ridiculous and the sublime each weak, a point at Old Trafford is a valid outcome.
And the barrier of Spurs’ aspirations here is likely nicely summed up by the fact that visitors got to fail to have a shot of any description in the second half, the first time that has arisen since December 2018 against Wolves.
But increased expectations come with very huge financial investment and for all the attacking skill on display, Chelsea was able to succeed to shoot only three shots on target as they tried to break the rigid Tottenham backline.
Overall, Chelsea had extra two days to prepare for this game and was able to utilize all six summer signings at one phase or another here, in addition to Christian Pulisic making his appearance since 28 October following continual hamstring difficulties.
Christian Pulisic and Havertz came off the bench while Oliver Giroud replaced Tammy Abraham as Lampard still maintained a formation of 4-3-3. That was gradually nullified by Jose Mourinho’s side and they kept on waiting for half chances to feed on.
Mourinho could be recognized informing his players to slow down the game during the second half as his substitutions added further conservatism to their direction. Gareth Bale, who’s numerous thoughts were acquired on loan from Real Madrid to win matches of this magnitude, remained an unusual substitute.
At least Chelsea had their established match-winners on the pitch. Spurs deserve credit for executing Mourinho’s tactical strategy so emphatically, showing a resolve not usually attributed with Tottenham in ensuring a draw that takes them back to the top of the table. But although Spurs brought shrewdly this summer with Mourinho also extracting obvious advancement in numerous individuals perhaps vast pertinently Tanguy Ndombele, who was outstanding in the first half where there is no sufficient expectation only yet on Tottenham to win the title.
Timo Werner with four goals is one of the highest-priced Chelsea attackers who have still to hit the top gear since entering Stamford Bridge this summer. Manchester City and Liverpool rightly remain favourites, but Chelsea’s expenditure gets blended with their positional proximity previous season establishes Frank Lampard under more sudden pressure to deliver.
They should generate more of a goal threat in these bigger games. Hakim Ziyech tested his luck from long range in the second minute with a shot straight at Lloris but the Spurs goalkeeper was not tested again until Mount pushed him into an outstanding save nine minutes from time.
Chelsea could still win it. Joe Rodon, creating his entire Premier League debut with Toby Alderweireld missing through the injury, started and finished off with a shaky moment, directing a weak header back to Lloris in stoppage time that knocked down kindly for Giroud. The 34-year-old, could not take the benefit, only raising a tame shot straight at his fellow Frenchman.
Pulisic and Havertz did not have enough time to affect the game as they had been struggling for match fitness. But the German striker thought he would open the scoring on 11 minutes, accumulating the pass of Mount in space on the left, cutting in on his right foot and curling an amazing shot in off the post just to get flagged offside correctly. He did struggle to make inroads after that, enrolling the lowest pass fulfilment rate of any Chelsea starter aside from Abraham.
Maybe Frank Lampard was aware of the defeat of Mourinho’s default setting, securing his player did not commit for worry of getting caught on the counter-attack, something which seemed probable early on when Spurs threatened with Serge Aurier and Steven Bergwijn close.
But even so, in those tough moments, individual excellence is required. That’s why the money was paid by Chelsea. Several huge tests are coming for Lampard and more is required from the expensively assembled forward line of Chelsea if they are to bridge the gap to the top.
