Premier League giants Chelsea got back to winning ways on the weekend after dismantling a struggling Burnley side by a 3-0 scoreline. Although Blues fans weren’t overly confident going into the tie, their performance on the pitch would’ve come as motivation to even the most pessimistic of fans. Despite not getting off to the best of starts, the London club soon took over proceedings, as the presence of Kai Havertz and Mason Mount in midfield enforced their attacking ambitions, while N’Golo Kante secured things at the back.
Lampard’s men didn’t start the season off in the greatest possible fashion as they were outplayed by both Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion in the early parts of the campaign. Although the defeat to the champions was probably expected, few would’ve thought that Chelsea would allow West Brom Albion to hold them to a 3-3 draw. While the Blues did show good attacking intent to come back from three goals down in the second half, their defensive fragility was obviously a concern for the manager as well.
In the win against Burnley though, things looked like they had taken a turn for the better. The Blues’ last three games before that had all ended in clean sheets, having shut out the opposition in contests against Krasnodar, Manchester United and Sevilla. Although they didn’t score in the latter two, it was seemingly a sign of things to come defensively. Chelsea hit Krasnodar for four in their last outing before the trip to Turf Moor, and the progress that this Chelsea team has made under Lampard was apparent to see.
Here Are The 3 Things That Chelsea Did Right In The Win Against Burnley:
3 Things That Chelsea Did Right In The Win Against Burnley
Seemed Defensively Sound
Although it could be argued that the Blues’ defensive stability has been a work in progress over the last couple of weeks, there’s no denying that their display against the Clarets was the best they’ve produced since the start of the season. The collective effort of all the defenders, over pre-match training and what they did on the pitch, was commendable to say the least. Lampard’s influence on the team was clear as day, and if they’re able to maintain this level of defensive security, then a title challenge could well be on the cards.
Brought Hakim Ziyech Into The Team
The Moroccan arrived at Chelsea in the summer, but has only started in two games for the Blues so far. Despite his rather limited involvement thus far, it’s safe to say that he was their best player in the win against Burnley. Not only did he manage to impress the manager with his work-rate and quality, but the sheer finesse and class that he brings to the front line is massive. A brilliant carrier of the ball, the former Ajax man’s long passing and set-piece delivery are both up there with the best too. Having scored in both the starts, there’s no way that Ziyech will be dropped from the side anytime soon.
Play With Two Number 8s
Chelsea started the Burnley match with a formation that fans have been demanding for the longest time now. Mason Mount’s natural position is undoubtedly as an attacking midfielder, and it was obvious that his effectiveness on the flank was quite limited. In this match though, Lampard opted to use both Kai Havertz and Mason Mount in the attacking-midfield roles, with both having a fair share of defensive responsibilities as well. Chelsea’s midfield dominance was an indicator of just how good that combination was, and it’s one that Lampard will surely be tempted to stick with.
