Jason Cundy’s solution to fix broken Chelsea: Mourinho needs to address defensive ‘imbalance’

With the side sitting 15th in the Premier League table, they had the chance to return to winning ways in style against rivals Liverpool on Saturday, but it only got worse for the defending champions as they slipped to a sixth defeat in 11 games – the Reds winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

 

Mourinho’s men have looked a distant shadow of the side which ran away with the top flight title last season, with many of their star performers yet to show up this term, while their famed defensive steel has seemingly disintegrated.

Having kept just two clean sheets and conceded 22 goals, their defensive frailties are a big concern for ex-star Cundy, who wants to see a return of the ‘boring Chelsea’ way which frustrated teams on their way to league glory last term.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Cundy said: “The right-back situation is a massive problem for Chelsea at the moment. Kurt Zouma is no right-back, but that’s not his fault.

“Jose is reluctant to play Cesar Azpilicueta on the right and I’ve seen Baba Raman play [he didn’t’ sound impressed] - there’s a real imbalance to the team.

“Kurt offers no threat going forward and Chelsea are completely unbalanced because of it and it’s one of many problems at the club at the moment.

"There isn’t one Chelsea player this season who could hold his hand up and say he’s performed anywhere near the level he did last year. But it isn’t just one or two individuals; it’s a number of things.

“We’re not closing down as a unit. I’ve noticed at times that we’re closing down as individuals instead of going as a team or hunting in packs. You look around the pitch and there are little things starting to mount up.

“We need to change the formation, focus on becoming hard to beat again, even if it means getting a few 0-0 draws to get some points.

“Let’s start by keeping a few clean sheets – that is our biggest problem. Scoring goals isn’t our problem – we never struggle to create chances or score goals - it’s defensively as a unit where we’re struggling.

“You go back to last year and Chelsea under Mourinho’s first reign – one goal was enough to win a game if everyone defends properly and everyone does their job.

“I would go back to basics. Chelsea were being criticised last season for being boring, but I want to see that boring 1-0 Chelsea again.”