It was another disappointing result for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, as they suffered their 19th defeat of the 2023 season against Wolves on Christmas Eve. The loss was a result of a lack of attacking prowess and defensive errors, which has been a recurring issue for the team.
Wolves opened the scoring in the 51st minute through Mario Lemina, and Matt Doherty sealed the win with a 93rd-minute goal. Despite Christopher Nkunku’s 96th-minute strike, it was too little, too late for Chelsea.
According to 90min’s player ratings, Christopher Nkunku was one of Chelsea’s best players in the game. His belated Premier League debut provided a glimpse of the attacking quality that Chelsea has been missing in the first half of the 2023/24 season.
Nkunku’s performance added genuine quality to the team, which was lacking in the first half of the game. His headed goal provided hope for the team’s future performances.
On the other hand, 22-year-old Nicolas Jackson’s performance was lackluster, as he failed to make an impact on the game. With only one shot on goal and no completed dribbles, his offensive contribution was minimal.
Thiago Silva, despite his legendary status at Chelsea, had a worrying performance, looking slow and clumsy in and out of possession. This was uncharacteristic of the defender, and it raised concerns considering how much the team relies on him defensively.
Overall, the defeat to Wolves highlighted Chelsea’s struggles in attack and defense, as well as individual player performances. The team will need to address these issues to improve their form in the upcoming games.
