Chelsea assessed: quality on show, but questions remain | OneFootball

Tonight (9 PM, live on DAZN), FC Bayern kicks off the new Champions League season. For the opening match, they face a formidable opponent in FC Chelsea: Club World Champions, heavily invested, individually top-notch – but not invincible.

The Munich team aims to lay the foundation for a successful preliminary round with a home victory. After the Blues, the opponents are Pafos and Club Brugge. Three points at the start would not only boost confidence but also open the door early for a placement among the top 8.

Chelsea's Squad: Investments and New Depth

Photo: IMAGO

The Blues invested over 320 million euros this summer. With players like former Dortmund player Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho, Jorrel Hato or Estevao, the offense has been massively strengthened. In terms of depth, Chelsea is well positioned. While Ferran Torres is more of a substitute at Barça, coach Enzo Maresca in London can draw from full resources.

However, there are question marks in goal. Regular goalkeeper Robert Sánchez is considered solid, but not world-class. The defense is also not perfectly balanced without the injured Levi Colwill. Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah are doing a decent job, but that certain extra is missing. In the center, however, Chelsea is excellently positioned: Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo form a control center that dictates the game and can pose problems for any opponent.

Maresca's Style: Dominance with Ball Possession

For about a year now, Enzo Maresca has been tasked with giving Chelsea a clear style of play. Lots of ball possession, lots of control, flexible offensive processes – that's the concept. So far, this has been achieved with mixed results. The Blues impressed with a 5:1 victory against West Ham, but revealed weaknesses in the 0:0 against Crystal Palace or the 2:2 against Brentford.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Particularly problematic: When opponents press high and disrupt the build-up, Chelsea wobbles. This is exactly where Bayern could come in. With aggressive counter-pressing and their own ball possession, the Club World Champions could be put under pressure.

Key Players: Fernandez and Joao Pedro

Enzo Fernández is the heart of the team. The Argentine thinks and plays fast, is the link between defense and offense and dictates the pace. If he is allowed to operate freely, Chelsea unfolds its full force.

Photo: IMAGO

Caution is also advised with Joao Pedro. The Brazilian is not a classic penalty area striker, but deliberately moves into spaces to create opportunities for teammates. With technique, overview, and goal danger, he brings a special dimension to the offensive game.

Chelsea is individually strong and excellently positioned in terms of depth. With possession football, flexibility, and quality in the center, the English are a serious opponent. But they are not unbeatable. They lack resistance to pressing, there are weaknesses in the build-up – and this is exactly where Bayern could make the difference.

For the Munich team, only a top performance will suffice against the Club World Champions. If they succeed, the start into the Champions League would be a strong signal to the competition.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.