{"id":1372636,"date":"2025-01-17T13:51:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T13:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1372636"},"modified":"2025-01-17T13:51:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T13:51:17","slug":"trevoh-chalobah-compared-other-chelsea-defenders","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/trevoh-chalobah-compared-other-chelsea-defenders\/","title":{"rendered":"How ‘new signing’ Trevoh Chalobah compares to Chelsea’s other defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea<\/a> have recalled Trevoh Chalobah<\/a> from his loan spell at Crystal Palace with the Blues struggling defensively.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A lot of Chelsea fans were annoyed the club had let him go in the first place, after impressing in defence last season. But the club looked happy to get rid of Chalobah, sending him on loan to Palace with a view to sell him next summer.<\/p>\n

Things have since changed. Chelsea are in the midst of a bit of an injury crisis defensively, suffering without the injured Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana. The Blues were linked with a move for Marc Guehi from Palace, potentially bringing another return.<\/p>\n

But Chelsea opted to recall Chalobah instead. So the question is, will Chalobah go straight into the Chelsea starting XI? And how does he compare to the Blues’ other available centre-back options?<\/p>\n

[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoia0dnMTBaNXQifQ==” partner=”squawka”]<\/p>\n

“It was quite an easy process [to recall Chalobah],” Enzo Maresca told reporters.<\/p>\n

“We have a few injuries in the squad as you know and we felt that the best solution was to bring back Trev. Firstly, because we know him very well and secondly because we know he can help us.<\/p>\n

“He knows this place very well, in fact he knows the house better than me! First of all, he was very happy, I could see his face and I had a chat with him a few days ago and this again this morning. You can see he is happy and we are happy that he is here and part of the group.”<\/p>\n

Chalobah initially joined Crystal Palace with an injury, missing his first three league games at the club. But he started 12 of the next 14 in the league, playing a total of 1,063 minutes. He was an unused substitute in a 1-5 home defeat to Arsenal<\/a>, while he was also ineligible to face parent club Chelsea at Selhurst Park.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old was utilised most on the right side of Palace’s back three, which was stretched quite wide at times. It’s something that will benefit Chelsea, as Chalobah can fill it at right-back should the Blues struggle there with injuries. As he did for the Blues towards the end of last season.<\/p>\n

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Of Palace’s three centre-backs, Chalobah was the least involved, with Guehi and Maxence Lacroix taking most of the control. Chalobah made 57 clearances in the Premier League for Palace at an average of 4.83 per 90 minutes — second only to Lacroix’s 5.28. He trailed Guehi and Chris Richards on headed clearances at 2.37 per 90 minutes, while he sat fourth for interceptions per 90 at 1.61.<\/p>\n

He was less busy on the ball too, ranking 12th for touches per 90 at 53.42 and ninth for passes completed per 90 at 36.41. Of course, these numbers are generally low compared to a lot of centre-backs at other clubs because of style of play and how Palace have had to operate this season.<\/p>\n

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     <\/p>\n

    Per the Squawka Score, Tosin Adarabioyo is the best-performing Chelsea centre-back this season with a total of 68%. He comes out particularly well in ground duels, winning 71.43% which places Adarabioyo in the top 95th percentile among centre-backs.<\/p>\n

    In comparison, Chalobah averaged 57.75% success rate in his ground duels, losing 0.93 challenges per 90 in the Premier League. But that success rate is still higher than Levi Colwill (51.43%) and Axel Disasi (44.44%). Of the fit trio, Chalobah would be partnering Colwill who has been Chelsea’s starting left centre-back this season. <\/p>\n

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    Despite having the lower ground duel success rate, Chalobah has averaged more total duels won per 90 in the Premier League this season than his new\/old Chelsea teammates. The 25-year-old has won 5.4 duels per 90, with Adarabioyo second on 4.7. Colwill comes in at third with 4.0, while Disasi has a low value of 3.4. <\/p>\n

    For Disasi, the difference between his ground duel success rate and his aerial duel success rate, when combined with his duels won, is quite interesting. Of course, his numbers are affected by his lack of minutes. He’s actually contested just seven aerial duels this season, winning five and losing two. <\/p>\n

    As mentioned earlier, Chalobah’s touch numbers are a lot lower than Chelsea’s defenders because the Blues enjoy a lot more possession than Palace. It works in the inverse too, with Chalobah busier defensively with Palace, leading to higher clearances and interceptions per 90.<\/p>\n

    But that can work in Chelsea’s favour, as Chalobah may provide some much-needed security to the Blues’ defence with experience this season. After all, Crystal Palace currently boast the joint-best away defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding just 11 goals. <\/p>\n

    It’s worth a quick look at goals too. While that’s obviously not the main job of a centre-back, it helps when goals can come from elsewhere. And Chelsea have certainly struggled for goals this season. Chalobah, on the other hand, hasn’t.<\/p>\n

    The Englishman has scored three goals in the Premier League this season, as many as all of Chelsea’s defenders combined. All three of those came from set pieces, two from a corner and one from an indirect free-kick played into the box. Arsenal often get mocked for scoring corner goals, but they can be vital when things just aren’t working from open play as you have more control on what happens.<\/p>\n

    And that’s what Chelsea need right now. A bit of control, and defensive stability.<\/p>\n

    Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n