Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Wednesday, November 11.
PSG chief accepts Silva mistake
Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo has admitted the French club may have “made a mistake” in allowing Thiago Silva to leave and join Chelsea as a free agent.
The Champions League runners-up decided against offering the veteran defender a new deal, with Silva opting to sign for the Blues.
And Leonardo accepts PSG might rue not keeping the Brazilian while they had the chance.
“At one moment, we have to say 'what are we going to do.' We spoke clearly with them… It was a moment where we could not give them exactly what they wanted,” Leonardo is quoted as saying by Get French Football News.
“It was a financial and generational problem. It was the moment to count on Marquinhos and Kimpembe. The decisions were difficult to take. Aside from that, we could have made a mistake.”
Chelsea searching for their own Promes
Hakim Ziyech has settled in quickly at Chelsea, with the Moroccan providing a trademark assist with a deep cross to the back post for Ben Chilwell to finish against Sheffield United on Saturday.
This is a move Ziyech honed during his time at Ajax, cutting onto his left foot from the right wing before whipping a cross to the back post for a teammate to run on to. Chilwell won’t be the last player to benefit from this.
For Ajax, Quincy Promes was the primary beneficiary of this action and Chilwell could find himself on a number of crosses from Ziyech as a result of his role in Frank Lampard’s system.
Ziyech was made to wait for his Chelsea debut due to injury, but has found a rich vein of form recently, scoring two goals and assisting three more four in his last four appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
How Lampard is getting the best out of his full-backs
The 2020/21 season has seen Lampard switch systems, with the Chelsea boss keen to get the most out of his full-backs, Chilwell and Reece James.
This came from a realisation that the Blues stood a better chance of creating in wide positions rather than through the middle of the pitch, as Lampard had originally emphasised and as analysed in greater detail here.
Lampard’s decision to switch to a 4-3-3 formation still allows Chilwell and James to get forward and attack, but the two full-backs are now afforded protection that ensures the defence isn’t left exposed.
Chelsea now appear a better-balanced side with Chilwell and James giving the Blues an outlet down the left and right wings. Their performances could be key to a good season.
