Chelsea’s defensive struggles have been well publicised recently, with the Blues struggling to keep clean sheets both home and away for some time now.
The good news is that one of the main weaknesses of this team last year – their inability in the air – looks to have been solved.
According to stats on the WhoScored website, the Blues have the best record in the air of any team in the Premier League, at 65.4%.
That will have been boosted by the arrival of Thiago Silva, who despite being relatively short has a great leap and appreciation of timing when going for the ball, as well as Edouard Mendy in goal, much more able to come for the difficult crosses than Kepa was.
There’s also the reintroduction of Kurt Zouma, one of the most aerially dominant defenders in football, back to the starting team.
If we can just get our success rate on the ground as good as it is in the air, the clean sheets will be flowing.
