Chelsea Have Quality, But Do They Have The Depth To Challenge On All Fronts?

As I sit watching the Spartak Moscow vs Chelsea Champions League match, the commentator talks of Salamon Kalou’s return as a much needed boost to Chelsea’s injury concerns. He mentions the Chelsea bench as being one of the most inexperienced and youthful in their Champions League history.

This got me wondering. Does Chelsea even have that many injury concerns? And if not, then does that mean their squad is a lot thinner than people are led to believe?

Chelsea’s team tonight reads: Cech, Cole, Terry, Ivanovic, Ferriera, Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka. Pretty good. Their bench however is less than special: Turnbull, Van Aanholt, Bruma, Clifford, McEachran, Mellis, Kakouta.

To be that thin on the ground, one would think that Ancellotti must be missing a lot of key players. Obviously Drogba and Lampard are massive losses, and it is true that Bosingwa and Alex are missing from the back line. Other than that, however, not much can be said for the other absentees: Ramires, Benayoun and Sturridge. Sturridge and Ramires are highly rated youngsters and Benayoun does have a considerable bit more experience, but even so seven injuries should not present an insurmountable problem. Most clubs have between four and six injuries at any given moment. Yet look at what seven injuries has done to Chelsea's bench: It is devoid of any quality options.

On paper Chelsea’s first thirteen or fourteen look fantastic. In terms of squad depth, however, they look less than impressive, especially when compared to Manchester City and Arsenal’s numerous options. 

Let's use Arsenal to compare. Two weeks ago, in defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal were missing Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott, Vermaelan, Ramsay, Gibbs, Bendtner and Almunia. Eight players out, more than Chelsea tonight, and they still had a bench consisting of Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Denilson, Rosicky, Vela and Emmanuel-Thomas. These are far more impressive players with far more collective experience, particularly in international and Premier League matches

Yes, Arsenal lost that day. But, there is no shame in losing 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and against an almost first choice Chelsea at that.

At the end of the day, this is not the point. The point is Chelsea’s key players are leaps and bounds ahead of what most other clubs in the Premiership can boast. But scratch the surface and a bout of injuries like Arsenal, Tottenham and to a certain extent Manchester United have suffered in the last season and Chelsea’s grip on the title does not look quite so firm. Should they remain injury free, I can’t see anyone else winning the title. Should they be forced to go through a prolonged period with the squad they have in Russia tonight, I can see the title race taking a few more twists and turns before the season closes.