Chelsea's Set-Piece Woes Exposed as Bournemouth Battle Ends in Stalemate

Chelsea’s high-intensity pressing had them scrambling to clear the ball, while Bournemouth capitalized on the resulting chaos to create multiple scoring opportunities from dead-ball situations. The match showed that Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities are not just limited to their front line but also extend to their back line. Match of the Day pundits Danny Murphy and Rob Green analyze how Chelsea’s defense, particularly in its defending set pieces, has become a significant issue for the team. They argue that the Blues’ inability to deal with crosses and corners allowed Bournemouth’s forwards to wreak havoc on their defense, ultimately leading to two goals conceded from set pieces. “We’ve seen teams struggling with set pieces before,” says Murphy. “It seems like Chelsea have lost their edge on that particular aspect of the game.” “Defending set pieces is a key area where Chelsea can improve,” adds Green. “Their backline needs to be more solid and disciplined in dealing with crosses and corners.” As the match highlights demonstrate, Chelsea’s problems with defending set pieces are not unique to this one outing. It is a recurring issue that the team must address if they wish to compete at the highest level. “I think it’s fair to say that Chelsea have become a bit complacent on set pieces,” says Murphy. “They’re getting caught out too often, and their backline isn’t doing enough to help them out.” Green concurs, stating, “If you can nullify an opponent’s set-piece threat, it can be a huge advantage for your team. Chelsea need to find ways to neutralize that threat if they want to succeed in big games.”