Chelsea’s current woes have highlighted a troubling issue: their inefficiency at converting set-pieces into goals.

The Blues, despite hiring set-piece expert Bernardo Cueva, have found little success in this area, something that has caught the attention of their head coach, Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea’s reliance on dead-ball situations to boost their scoring potential this season has yet to yield significant results.

A Troubling Set-Piece Conversion Rate

Despite winning an impressive 131 corners this season, Chelsea has only scored three goals from these opportunities—leaving them with a conversion rate of just 2.3%.

Maresca’s frustration with the numbers was clear as he reviewed the statistics ahead of their game against Wolves, the Premier League’s worst team at defending set-pieces.

To put things in perspective, Chelsea had a better conversion rate of 4.5% last season without a dedicated set-piece coach.

But with the arrival of Cueva and a sizable investment, the expectation was that these figures would drastically improve.

The Role of Bernardo Cueva in Chelsea’s Set-Piece Strategy

Cueva, a skilled set-piece specialist who was brought in at great cost from Brentford, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes.

He watches the game from his designated spot in the back row of the bench, always ready to jump into action when a corner is won.

Equipped with a screen showing multiple angles of the live game, he stays in constant communication with Maresca to plan every set-piece opportunity.

Despite his dedication and expertise, the results have yet to match expectations.

Wolves’ Vulnerabilities and Chelsea’s Response

Chelsea’s analysts pointed out that Wolves, the team they were facing next, have struggled immensely with defending set-pieces this season.

With a reputation for disorganized zonal marking, Wolves have conceded 17 goals from set-piece situations—far more than any other Premier League side.

Chelsea plans to exploit this weakness, with Cueva likely highlighting the need for accurate, fast deliveries to bypass Wolves’ porous defense.

Personnel Changes and Set-Piece Solutions

Chelsea’s defensive depth could play a key role in turning around their set-piece fortunes.

With towering players like Tosin Adarabioyo, who stands at 6ft 5in, being brought in during the summer for his aerial ability, Chelsea has the height advantage over many of their opponents.

Depending on player availability, Adarabioyo could feature in Chelsea’s defense, alongside other tall options like Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong, who has a proven track record of scoring from corners at youth level.

The Importance of Key Players in the Set-Piece Strategy

As the match against Wolves looms, Maresca is hopeful that key players like Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez will be fit enough to take charge of Chelsea’s set-piece duties.

Palmer, the left-footed winger, typically takes corners from the right, while Fernandez, a right-footer, takes them from the left.

With Reece James back from injury, his presence on dead-ball situations could add another dynamic to Chelsea’s set-piece delivery.

Chelsea’s Historic Affiliation with Set-Pieces

The importance of set-pieces at Chelsea is not a new phenomenon.

Fans will remember the dramatic moments of the 2012 Champions League final, where Didier Drogba’s iconic header from a set-piece corner helped secure Chelsea’s first-ever European trophy.

The hope for Maresca is that this historic connection to set-pieces can inspire his squad to improve their own efficiency and help them break out of their current slump.

Looking Ahead: A Crucial Opportunity for Chelsea

As Chelsea prepares for their upcoming match against Wolves, Maresca will be hoping to capitalize on every set-piece opportunity.

With Wolves’ defense still vulnerable, Chelsea may have the perfect chance to show that their set-piece struggles are a thing of the past.

Maresca, under pressure after a month-long winless run, will be desperate for his side to deliver when it counts.

And with the team’s reliance on set-pieces to turn games in their favor, Monday night’s match could be a make-or-break moment for Chelsea’s season.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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