While Arsenal have long been considered Premier League corner specialists, Chelsea are staking a new claim this season.
Under Enzo Maresca, the Blues have scored from four of their 22 corners so far—an impressive 18.18 percent—compared to just seven from 234 last season.
Chelsea’s set-piece transformation comes from a strategic shift. Last season, nearly 29 percent of their corners were taken short.
This year, they’ve cut that to just 13.64 percent, prioritising deliveries that smell like goals and putting themselves at the top among England’s elite clubs.
Targeting Weaknesses in Goal
When Chelsea face Brentford this weekend, Caoimhin Kelleher will be in goal for the Bees.
Signed from Liverpool for £18 million over the summer, Kelleher has faced criticism for claiming crosses, most famously during Fabian Schar’s equaliser in last season’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle.
Chelsea are already planning to exploit that vulnerability.
Choreographing Chaos on Corners
Chelsea’s corners are not left to chance.
Over the summer, the team has rehearsed everything from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez’s deliveries to Marc Cucurella’s positioning for flick-ons.
At the heart of it is Bernardo Cueva, the club’s set-piece coach, who is known for storming down from the substitutes’ bench to direct players in real-time, shouting precise instructions like “five yards to the left.”
Liam Delap, however, doesn’t need such guidance. His role is simple yet crucial: disrupt the opposition goalkeeper.
This tactic contributed to Chelsea’s four corner goals this season, including three in the 5-1 demolition of West Ham.
Joao Pedro stepped in when Delap was injured, demonstrating the team’s flexibility.
Marc Guiu Returns to Bolster Options
Marc Guiu was recalled from Sunderland after just 26 days on loan, primarily due to Delap’s injury.
Chelsea considered that Guiu hadn’t been used much at Sunderland, making him a valuable squad option.
Delap is expected back before Christmas barring setbacks, giving Chelsea confidence in their attacking depth.
Alison Bender Opens Up About Threats
Former Chelsea TV presenter Alison Bender revealed a shocking Instagram rape threat from an anonymous individual.
Bender, who previously worked for Real Madrid TV, said in a statement that such abuse is “pretty commonplace” for female colleagues in the industry.
She urged social media platforms to take greater accountability while reassuring followers that she is fine.
VAR Controversy at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea were amused—and slightly frustrated—when Fulham awarded Josh King’s disallowed goal as their own “goal of the month” after Chelsea’s 2-0 win.
PGMOL head Howard Webb confirmed VAR Michael Salisbury had erred, while referee Rob Jones disallowed the goal.
Salisbury won’t be officiating Premier League games this weekend, and Jones will only serve as fourth official in West Ham versus Tottenham.
Nicolas Jackson’s Bayern Move Remains Conditional
Chelsea and Nicolas Jackson’s camp have stayed quiet on Uli Hoeness’ claim that the striker’s loan obligation at Bayern Munich will only be triggered under certain conditions, including 40 starts in Bundesliga and Champions League matches.
Jackson joined Bayern on an initial €16.5m loan with a conditional €65m obligation, though details remain disputed.
Estevao Settles Into London Life
Brazilian winger Estevao Willian has been settling into London with guidance from Chelsea scouts Alysson Marins and Carlos Vargas, and teammates Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos.
While Portuguese remains the common language, the squad encourages him to learn English to ease his integration at Cobham.
Kiano Dyer’s Last-Minute Move
Chelsea confirmed Kiano Dyer’s loan to Eredivisie side Volendam just four minutes before the transfer window closed.
Simultaneously, the 18-year-old signed a new contract with Chelsea until 2030. Volendam face Go Ahead Eagles this Saturday.
New Roles Strengthen the Club
Chelsea are constantly expanding their staff.
Current openings include a Mental Health Senior Officer to support player welfare and a First-Team Data Analyst to translate performance insights into visual summaries for players, demonstrating the club’s commitment to both physical and mental excellence.