Ex-Chelsea midfielder Ruud Gullit believes his former club lack proficiency in the full-back areas compared to Liverpool and Manchester City.
Gullit, 55, spent three years in west London with Chelsea having joined from Sampdoria in 1995, before going on to make 49 Premier League appearances and scoring nine goals in the process.
Newly-appointed Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has enjoyed a perfect start to life in England, winning his opening three matches, including an emphatic 3-2 win over London rivals Arsenal.
Despite this, Gullit was apprehensive following the club’s unconvincing 2-1 win over Newcastle United at the weekend. Sarri’s men boasted 81% possession but struggled to break down a resolute Magpies’ defence, and Gullit pinpoints this as being down to a lack of dynamism on the flanks.
“Chelsea must do more – especially considering Liverpool and Manchester City’s impressive starts – if they want to be involved at the top of the table for the long haul,” said Gullit in an interview with the BBC.
“It might seem counter-intuitive considering left-back Marcos Alonso was key to both Chelsea goals on Sunday, but Maurizio Sarri’s full-backs are not as effective an attacking threat as their Liverpool and City counterparts.
“When a side sits deep, it is very difficult to unpick them by playing narrow and in front of them.
“For City, full-back Benjamin Mendy’s delivery from the left has given them a new dimension this season. Against Huddersfield last weekend, he delivered 12 open-play crosses, more than any other City player since the start of last season.
“Against Brighton on Saturday, Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold were dynamic and dangerous, overlapping at pace to get in positions close to the byeline from where they could get in telling crosses and cut-backs.”
On Chelsea’s starting full-backs, Gullit added: “I just do not think Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are those sort of players. Alonso is more like a midfielder – very elegant on the ball, clever with how he uses space and angles – but he does not have the pace to unsettle a defence.
“Azpilicueta played for much of last season as one of previous boss Antonio Conte’s three centre-halves.”
Liverpool – alongside Watford and Chelsea – have also made the perfect start to the season, winning three matches while not conceding a goal in the process.
Elsewhere, Man City faltered over the weekend after enduring a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Wolves.
Chelsea face Bournemouth in their next game this Saturday, while Liverpool travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester and Man City lock horns with Newcastle United.
The post Ruud Gullit picks out the key difference between Chelsea, Liverpool and title holders Man City appeared first on Squawka News.
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