Chelsea find themselves in serious trouble after the first half of their Premier League clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, trailing 2–0 at the break.
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade proved decisive early on, scoring twice in quick succession in the 4th and 20th minutes to put the hosts firmly in control. Chelsea struggled to cope with the intensity and directness of Newcastle’s attack, leaving the Blues chasing the game for most of the opening half.
Chelsea’s performance was largely below par. Although Pedro Neto appeared to pull one back, his effort was ruled out after it was adjudged to have been scored with his arm. Cole Palmer’s inclusion in the starting lineup initially gave fans hope, but the Chelsea talisman endured a difficult first half and failed to influence proceedings.
Discipline also became an issue for the visitors. By half-time, Robert Sánchez, Alejandro Garnacho, and Malo Gusto had all been shown yellow cards. Despite holding 51% possession, Chelsea were unable to translate control of the ball into meaningful chances.
Softfootball observed Enzo Fernández warming up toward the end of the first half, suggesting a possible tactical change from head coach Enzo Maresca. A likely scenario could see Fernández introduced for Garnacho, with Cole Palmer moving to the right, Pedro Neto switching to the left, and Fernández operating in the number 10 role.
Whether this adjustment can turn Chelsea’s fortunes around remains to be seen, but it could form part of Maresca’s plan to address the Blues’ struggles in the second half.
