Chelsea’s horrendous 2022-23 Premier League campaign continues to spiral out of control today after the Blues’ away day at the Molineux against relegation-threatened Wolves yielded a zero-point tally during a 1-0 loss against Julen Lopetegui’s men.
On a day when many supporters will have hoped to read a different script as Frank Lampard returned for a second managerial stint in the capital as interim manager for the rest of the season after Chelsea parted ways with Graham Potter, a first-half wondergoal from Matheus Nunes was the difference maker in the midlands, which pushed Wolves up to 12th in the table while enjoying a four-point gap to the bottom three.
Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea (39 points) are closer to 20th place Southampton (23 points) than they are to 4th place Manchester United (56 points) 😳 pic.twitter.com/2rFGduXABa
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 8, 2023
Despite having the lion’s share of possession and crafting an xG that doubled what Wolves could muster, the Blues failed to create a single big chance on a day where Lampard opted to drop a back three deployment and instead send his team out in a 4-3-3.
It was hardly the start to possible rebirth for the remainder of the season that the Chelsea brass will have wanted, given the Blues also have a Champions League quarterfinal date with Real Madrid to also contend with. A perfect chance to relight the gas under the stove against a struggling Wolves team is certainly an opportunity missed, and questions will no doubt continue to be asked of a club that is struggling as much as they are despite spending over £600m.
Questions will no doubt remain on the basis of whether or not Lampard was the correct appointment, even on a temporary basis, but from a Wolves perspective, the quality that the club does have in spades on the pitch shone through at a time when it was needed most.
📰 Table Of Contents
Wolves Player Ratings
- GK: José Sá – 7
- RB: Nelson Semedo – 7
- RCB: Craig Dawson – 7
- LCB: Max Kilman – 7
- LB: Toti Gomes – 7
- RM: Matheus Nunes – 8
- RCM: João Gomes – 7.5
- LCM: Mario Lemina – 6.5
- LM: Daniel Podence – 6.5
- RF: Matheus Cunha – 7
- LF: Diego Costa – 6
- Sub: Hwang Hee-Chan – 6
- Sub: João Moutinho – 6
- Sub: Adama Traoré – 6
- Sub: Pablo Sarabia – 6
- Sub: Nathan Collins – N/A
Chelsea Player Ratings
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6.5
- RB: Reece James – 7.5
- RCB: Wesley Fofana – 7
- LCB: Kalidou Koulibaly – 7.5
- LB: Marc Cucurella – 6
- DM: Enzo Fernández – 6.5
- RCM: Conor Gallagher – 6
- LCM: Mateo Kovačić – 6.5
- RW: Raheem Sterling – 6
- LW: João Félix – 6
- CF: Kai Havertz – 6.5
- Sub: Christian Pulisic – 6
- Sub: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 6
- Sub: Mykhailo Mudryk – 6
- Sub: Ben Chilwell – 6
- Sub: Trevoh Chalobah – 6
