Explained: Why Chelsea started playing the fast football the fans wanted – and started winning | OneFootball

Chelsea’s big win over Liverpool and their general uptick in form since the start of last month had the London is Blue podcast asking what had happened to the previously stodgy and slow style that was causing so much frustration.

Chelsea’s improved speed leads to improved results

“The [improved] pace of play and the intensity in midfield, winning the ball back, has caused other teams a lot of problems,” presenter Nick Verlaney said.

“This is Chelsea looking dangerous again because they’re turning the ball over in midfield and advancing it more quickly than we saw in the very turgid play that we saw from the December through early April period, that was just not as snappy, not as quick.”

Manager Enzo Maresca got a lot of blame for the slow play and the style which was not only frustrating fans, but also not getting results.

On the one hand, he can now say that he has the evidence that that is not how he wants his team to play, just a function of the defensive opposition they were up against in those games. On the other hand, there are plenty of managers who are able to get their team playing entertaining, quick football against the lowest of blocks.

You can see their discussion of the changes in the clip embedded here:

Lavia’s return comes just in time to boost results, performances and the mood at Stamford Bridge

Romeo Lavia in action for Chelsea against Bournemouth. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty)

The return of Romeo Lavia from injury to play a key role midfield has been a game changer, and a significant factor in a couple of these good results. With him in midfield, Moises Caicedo inverting from right back and Enzo Fernandez pushing forward, it feels like we’re finally seeing Maresca’s idea come together in a way that gets results and gets the fans applauding.