Chelsea: Three things to look for as Blues seek rebound

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Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (L) reacts with Chelsea’s German striker Timo Werner at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in London on October 3, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Chelsea has to rebound quick to beat Aston Villa. What things should the Blues be looking for as they search for all three points?

Chelsea’s performance against Arsenal was a post-Christmas cringe-fest. It was as lethargic as someone watching who has eaten and drunk non-stop for 48 hours. On paper the team selection was a good one, the reality awoke any Chelsea fan nodding off on the sofa. Whether it’s a good thing that the game against Aston Villa comes just two days later remains to be seen.

For sure there needs to be a massive improvement and although it could be argued the luck went Arsenal’s way, Chelsea got what they deserved. Villa will be a difficult game for sure. Jack Grealish will relish the opportunity to play against the Chelsea defense that turned up at the Emirates. However, this game will not be about Villa, it will be about what Chelsea do and who’s on the pitch.

1. An Improvement of the Attitude and Aptitude of the Players

If we are honest, Chelsea have been poor since before the Leeds United victory. There must come a time when the players look at themselves as being a major part of the problem. From the start of the Boxing Day defeat the players looked off the pace. Across the team their first touch was poor and the control of the ball thereafter wayward.

All that has to improve because Villa’s form is good and so far this month they’ve yet to concede. Individually and collectively the players, in recent games, are consistently falling short. Frank Lampard was unhappy with what he’d seen post-match at the Emirates and let that be known to the media. The players must react positively at Stamford Bridge against Villa. Now is not the time for downing tools as we saw at times under Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and dare I say it, Maurizio Sarri. However, that really in the realms of playing devil’s advocate, that won’t happen, but improvement is needed badly.

Of course, we have to caveat that with the difficulties these last twelve months have brought. Everyone needs to be cut some slack and footballers are no exception. The time to judge these players is not now though. As normality, hopefully, returns, next season will be their judgement time. The majority will be at Chelsea for many more years and whilst these performances are poor, these players are not just for Christmas, they’re for life.

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