Paul Scholes said Chelsea’s starting front three was toothless in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
While Manchester United’s late equalizer made it feel like Chelsea dropped two points in the game, the visitors clearly had more goalscoring chances.
The Blues started the game with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front and Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount on the flanks in a 3-4-3, before changing the shape to a 4-4-2 after just 36 minutes.
Mount dropped slightly deeper to help in midfield while Sterling and Aubameyang formed a pair up front.
The tactical change helped Chelsea regain some control in midfield, but it did not have a big impact in the final third.
Scholes highlighted that from Manchester United’s point of view, Chelsea’s front three were not threatening at all.
“I think over the whole game, [Manchester United] deserved to win the game, if you look at the chances, the dominance,” the former England international told Premier League Productions (via Optus Sport).
“In the first half, really not taking chances was a problem.
“And I never felt worried about Chelsea. If you think about the attacking quality they got with Mount, Aubameyang, and Sterling, I never felt they were really in the game.
“I can’t really remember [their] creating chances between themselves or missing a chance.
“I thought it was a pretty dominant display overall by United.”
It is hardly a surprise Scholes could not remember anything from Chelsea’s starting front three, since they managed a total of just one shot in the game.
Erik ten Hag’s men deserve their credit for not allowing Chelsea to build from the back, but Graham Potter must have expected more from players of Aubameyang, Sterling, and Mount’s caliber.
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