Chelsea manager Graham Potter has struggled to find the formula to set up his expensively assembled squad in a creative and prolific manner. Prior to their crucial Champions League last-16, second-leg tie against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening, the Blues racked up just five goals in 12 outings in 2023.
Both the manager and Chelsea’s attacking options have come under fire for the side’s dire goalscoring form. Given Potter’s reluctance to play a natural No. 9, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour, this has placed added pressure on those entrusted with leading the line to find the goals to arrest their dismal recent record.
However, pundit Joe Cole thinks there is enough ability within the squad, and has told Potter who he needs to combine together to reap the rewards. Speaking to BT Sport ahead of the Dortmund clash, the former Chelsea player identified the trio of Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix as all carrying a goal threat.
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Cole believes all that is required to get them firing in front of goal is to restore their confidence, which he reckons is at rock-bottom. “I think I’m happy with the team. We haven’t got a No. 9 so you’re going to have to play three players who’ve all got a goal threat,” he said.
“Havertz we know can score goals, we know Sterling can score goals, we know Felix - they’re not at the moment but that can be a number of reasons for that. That can be confidence, it’s certainly not quality - we’ve seen Raheem score many goals, we’ve seen all of them score goals, but it’s confidence.
“They need to build themselves back into that game. Like any good striker will tell you, once the one comes they’ll hope the floodgates open, but it’s an attacking formation from Chelsea.”
Potter played Sterling, Felix and Havertz in a back-three line-up against Leeds United on Saturday, and kept with the same system and attacking personnel for the match against Dortmund. Having missed the Premier League game with a tight hamstring, Reece James was restored to the starting XI at right wing-back, and Cole also believes both he and left wing-back Ben Chilwell are pivotal in creating a more dangerous attack.
“When you’ve got a No. 9 you know that’s your focal point, he’s going to stay there, but when there’s three of you all moving you’ve got to be really intelligent, you’ve got to be really switched on and one of you at all times has got to get around Emre Can in the build-up,” he added.
“You’ve got to link, and when you can play your part in that position and you’ve got four players in there, what's crucial is you don’t let them switch the play. This formation, Reece James and Chilwell are going to be giving you width and penetration wide, you want to nail Borussia Dortmund in the midfield.
“If they switch it and get at your full-backs that’s when you’re in trouble.”
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