Danny Murphy argues that Chelsea’s failure to manage key moments in matches, particularly due to a lack of experience, has been costly in their Premier League title chase. This assessment follows Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Chelsea dominated the opening stages at Selhurst Park, with Cole Palmer giving them a deserved lead. However, they missed several opportunities to extend their advantage. Crystal Palace capitalized on a defensive lapse in the 82nd minute when Jean-Philippe Mateta equalized from close range.
The result leaves Chelsea with just two points from their last four games, placing them fourth in the standings and nine points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played two more matches. Despite Enzo Maresca downplaying their title chances, it’s evident Chelsea still have progress to make before they can compete for the biggest trophies.
Post-match, Maresca blamed Chelsea’s lack of clinical finishing for the dropped points, but Murphy highlighted another critical issue on BBC Radio 5 Live, focusing on poor game management: “Chelsea needs to understand when to slow the game down and manage the situation better, not just push forward constantly.”
Murphy pointed out similarities between this match and Chelsea’s loss to Fulham, where the game became a chaotic, end-to-end affair. Despite possessing talent, Chelsea’s youthful squad, with an average age of 23.5, has struggled with consistency over the past seasons.
Murphy also critiqued individual mistakes, particularly one that led to Mateta’s equalizer. He questioned goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s decision to play out from the back in the dying minutes of the match, putting his team under unnecessary pressure.
Murphy concluded that young players like Palmer and Malo Gusto, who were involved in defensive errors, lack the experience to control such critical moments. Chelsea will need to manage games more effectively if they are to compete at the top level. They next face high-flying Bournemouth in the Premier League and Morecambe in the FA Cup third-round this Saturday.