Former Chelsea star Pat Nevin has voiced his concerns about the current state of Chelsea’s defense, suggesting that a lack of top-quality centre-backs is hindering their chances of mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.
Nevin points to the club’s inability to adequately replace veteran defender Thiago Silva, who departed the club in the summer, as a key reason for Chelsea’s defensive struggles.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, Silva played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s backline, bringing a wealth of experience, leadership, and defensive prowess.
Despite Chelsea’s efforts in the transfer market, including the acquisition of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer, Nevin believes the club has yet to find a true successor to Silva. While the Brazilian plans to return in a coaching role once he retires, his absence on the pitch is still being keenly felt.
Nevin acknowledges that Chelsea’s current first-choice centre-back pairing of Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana has promise but believes that individual errors and a lack of experience at the heart of the defense are preventing the team from reaching the next level.
Colwill, in particular, was uncharacteristically rash in his performance against Liverpool, conceding a penalty, while goalkeeper Robert Sanchez’s mistakes against Brighton only further compounded Chelsea’s defensive woes.
Although Colwill and Fofana have shown potential, they are still relatively young and lack the level of leadership and composure that Silva brought to the team. Nevin highlights that Chelsea have long benefited from world-class defenders like John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, and the current squad has yet to produce players of that calibre.
Nevin also notes that, while Chelsea have made significant investments in their squad, the club did not make sufficient efforts to strengthen their central defense following Silva’s departure. As a result, he believes Chelsea’s backline lacks the kind of stability and quality necessary to compete for the Premier League title.
Rumours have surfaced suggesting that Chelsea have identified Benfica’s Antonio Silva as a potential target for bolstering their defensive ranks. However, Nevin stresses that until the Blues add a player of the Brazilian’s quality or someone with similar leadership attributes, their title hopes will remain out of reach.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Nevin summed up the situation, stating, “Blues fans have been spoiled at centre-back and have got used to some of the best in the world at the core of their defense. The absence of top quality in that core area means the top table is still beyond them.”
Nevin’s assessment aligns with the concerns of many Chelsea supporters who believe that, despite a strong start to the season, the team’s defensive frailties will ultimately prevent them from keeping pace with the league’s top sides.
Until the club addresses this critical issue, Chelsea’s ability to challenge for major silverware will continue to be questioned.
