Antonio Conte, Alvaro Morata, Eden Hazard? Who is to blame for Chelsea’s goalless run?
For the first time in the Blues’ long history, they’ve gone three games without finding the back of the net in all competitions
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THERE were no goals but that’s exactly why Chelsea’s 0-0 draw with Leicester City was historic.
For the first time in the Blues’ long history, they’ve gone three games without finding the back of the net. And, strangely, it’s happened across three different competitions.
Antonio Conte’s side failed to score against Norwich in the FA Cup, couldn’t break Arsenal down in the Carabao Cup and then struggled against the Foxes on Saturday.
But why have Chelsea suddenly been blunted?
We asked our friends at Football Whispers to answer that question and decide if the Blues need to sign another striker before the January transfer window closes.
Having watched his side failed to break down ten-man Leicester, Conte was unsurprisingly prickly during his post-match interview.
But when asked why his side are now 276 minutes without a goal, the Italian’s assessment was a well-reasoned one.
Conte said: “It is a problem for the whole team.
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“Compared to last season we are conceding less and showing more solidity, but we haven’t had great quality in our finishing – a lot of time defenders have had chances but didn’t take them.
‘We have to try to improve in this aspect, but the problem is not just for (Alvaro) Morata, or (Michy) Batshuayi when he plays. We have to improve our quality in the last step.”
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It’s that last sentence that fundamentally answers the question as to why Chelsea are failing to score.
In the final third, despite taking 57 shots in the last three games, the Blues are simply not doing enough. And there are several reasons as to why.
Conte may have protected him over the past fortnight, but there is little doubt Morata’s poor form in front of goal is partly to blame.
The striker has netted just five times since September and has appeared bereft of confidence in recent matches.
He is missing big chances he should score. His hat-trick of wasted opportunities in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the start of the month proved costly.
He also spurned chances when the two sides met in the Carabao Cup a week later.
But perhaps most concerning is that he failed to muster a single shot on goal against a Leicester side that played the final 22 minutes of the game with ten men after Ben Chilwell was dismissed.
Pedro, introduced from the substitutes’ bench in the 58th minute, managed three.
Morata hasn’t benefitted, however, by Conte’s move away from a 3-4-3 formation.
The system helped the Blues win the Premier League title last season but was tweaked in late September to a 3-5-2 following Eden Hazard’s return from injury.
The Belgian immediately impressed.
No longer confined to the left wing, he could drift into space across the attacking third, collect the ball and dribble at the heart of an opposition defence.
But Chelsea’s No10 has also faded in recent weeks. He hasn’t scored from open play since the start of December and has only one assist in his last 13 games.
And yet Conte has persisted with the 3-5-2 shape despite it hindering his two main attacking threats.
When set-up in the formation, Hazard shoulders the creative burden.
Often he is given the ball by team-mates who then expect the 27-year-old to fashion something out of nothing. Hazard is supremely talented but can’t pull every string alone.
And with Morata struggling for confidence, the Belgium star needs more support, something which Conte and the club has to give him.
According to reports, the Blues want to sign a striker in January and the name strongly linked is Andy Carroll. Yes, that Andy Carroll.
The Andy Carroll who has averaged 22 starts a season since moving to West Ham from Liverpool in the summer of 2013.
When fit, there is no doubt the England international offers a unique threat – there is arguably no better player in the Premier League when attacking crosses with his head...
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But it’s difficult to see him fitting in at a Chelsea side which predominantly works the ball into the penalty area via possession.
Carroll failed at Liverpool because he couldn’t adapt his style, although that may not be an issue at Chelsea if he was to be solely a plan B.
But Morata needs a striker to come in and take the goalscoring burden off him, the 29-year-old Englishman is unlikely to be that man given he’s scored 32 goals for West Ham in four and a half years.
Michy Batshuayi could argue his case, however, Conte hasn’t ever been convinced by the Belgian striker and he looks likely to be sent to Sevilla on loan, but only if Chelsea can bring in a replacement.
Carroll? Perhaps, although you sense Blues supporters would like their club to be aiming a little bit higher.
An effective back-up for Morata could be the difference between a comfortable top four finish or a battle secure Champions League football.
Chelsea shouldn’t attempt to cut corners and they should spend big if required. The club must ensure a historical anomaly doesn’t become a recurring theme.