Garth Crooks believes Willian struggled to make the transition from playing in the Champions League and again at the weekend and insists Chelsea’s players need to dramatically improve if they’re to fight on all fronts.
The Brazilian played the full 90 minutes of a 6-0 win against Qarabag on Tuesday before starting in a 0-0 draw against the Gunners but offered little as Antonio Conte’s men looked devoid of ideas going forward.
Alvaro Morata found himself isolated for long periods of the contest, with the Spaniard failing to get support from fellow attackers.
With Pedro withdrawn at half-time due to injury, the onus was on Willian to get closer to the 24-year-old but he was ultimately hooked off after 70 minutes.
Crooks used the 29-year-old as a prime example of how Chelsea need to adapt this season, having reaped the benefits of not playing in Europe in 2016/17.
And he is convinced the squad will need to ‘cope’ better with the rigorous demands of competing in the Champions League and Premier League if they’re going to have a shot at landing either title.
‘[Shkodran] Mustafi didn’t give Alvaro Morata a kick throughout the entire 90 minutes of Sunday’s London derby,’ he wrote in his weekly column. ‘Granted, Morata could have done with a little help from Willian, who couldn’t seem to cope, having played two games in four days.
‘That is an important point. because if Chelsea intend to progress in the Champions League, and be serious contenders to retain the title, then more of their players are going to have to deal with playing in midweek and picking up valuable points in the league at the same time.
‘Manchester City have proved they are capable of producing victories after Champions League fixtures, and have the appetite to score goals. Arsenal played in the Europa League two days after Chelsea’s European game and somehow looked better for it.’
MORE : Chelsea boss Antonio Conte defends Alvaro Morata amid claims of physicality ‘problem’
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