Cole Palmer expressed a feeling of renewed energy after a seven-week break, having missed out on the World Cup with England. "I feel fresh," Palmer stated, noting that the extended time off, while initially unusual, ultimately fueled his hunger for the upcoming season.
This sentiment of being recharged appears to extend to Chelsea's attacking unit. In their season opener against Fulham, the collective World Cup minutes for Chelsea's starting XI totaled 1,046. This figure stands in stark contrast to rivals such as Manchester City (3,351 minutes), Liverpool (2,279), Arsenal (2,191), and Manchester United (1,687), who are considered Chelsea's primary competitors for Champions League qualification.
Attacking Prowess and a New Nickname
Palmer, alongside Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, formed an attacking trio that contributed significantly to Chelsea's 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage. Palmer, in particular, demonstrated impressive form, creating chances and posing a constant threat to Fulham's defense. Joao Pedro scored within the first minute of the match. This attacking unit has already been dubbed 'J P Morgan' by some, with each member contributing a goal in the opening game.
Palmer and Rogers, both excluded from their national teams for the World Cup, and Pedro, who was not selected by Brazil, appear to benefit from their reduced summer workload. This freshness could be a strategic advantage for Chelsea, especially coupled with their absence from European competition this season.
Goalkeeping Concerns
Amidst the attacking optimism, questions have arisen regarding Chelsea's goalkeeping situation. Robert Sanchez, while considered a capable goalkeeper, has faced scrutiny following his performance against Fulham. Both of Fulham's goals were deemed avoidable. The first goal, from Josh King, occurred after Sanchez made what was described as an unconvincing save on a previous shot from distance, a save that statistics suggest a goalkeeper should make 97% of the time. For Fulham's second goal, Sanchez parried a shot towards an opponent, leading to a rebound goal.
Historically, Chelsea has made significant goalkeeper acquisitions following perceived errors. The club signed Edouard Mendy after a notable performance by Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2020.
Chelsea has expressed confidence in their current goalkeeping setup, with Sanchez as the primary choice and Belgian prospect Mike Penders as his understudy. The club sees significant potential in the 21-year-old Penders, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg.
Penders is anticipated to start in Chelsea's upcoming Carabao Cup match against Luton Town. Manager Xabi Alonso stated that "the pitch is the boss of everything" when discussing his goalkeepers. While Alonso publicly supported Sanchez after the Fulham match, the early-season performance and the emergence of Penders suggest a potential shift in the goalkeeping hierarchy.