Rudiger wants Chelsea to improve and improve quickly

Just like in every friendly so far this summer, Chelsea started off strong last night against Arsenal, and should’ve been up 3-0 in the first half alone. But a bit of atrocious finishing, including from the penalty spot for a change, meant that Chelsea “lost” against Arsenal once again, which has become a bit of an unfortunate theme as of late.

Yes, it’s all fake and these results don’t mean anything at the end of the day but the performance does and scoring goals is not a switch that you can just turn on as soon as the actual season starts. Chelsea have failed to score more than one goal in each and every game this preseason.

Finishing chances was an issue last season as well, as was the theme of giving up early leads and conceding late equalizers. Antonio Rudiger, not one to hold back in his interviews, has seen that all before in the past twelve months, and was none too happy to see them resurface last night in Dublin.

“I think in the first half, we started well. We started very good. We scored early and that was very good, we had also could have scored more in the first half. In the end of the first half, we were a bit sloppy.

”We gave away possession to Arsenal and yes, we continued like that in the second half. The final pass was missing, these are things that we need to work on very quickly. I think the second half, it was an open game but to concede like this in the last minute. No, we have to win this.”

-Antonio Rudiger; source: Goal

Rudiger is right, of course. The start of the season is right around the corner and these are things that need to be sorted out quickly.

The sloppy passes and easy giveaways should become rarer as the players learn the new tactics, while the return of N’Golo Kanté should shore up the gaps in midfield. Eden Hazard will add his usual magic moments, while Batshuayi and Giroud should be able take the crushing responsibility off of Morata’s shoulders.

Hopefully.

And then Rüdiger can get some new dance moves to show off, too.