Tim Sherwood said Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner’s absences were not the determining factors in the 1-1 draw between Chelsea and Burnley on Saturday.
Chelsea only had four shots on target from 25 attempts, which understandably became the main talking point after they failed to win despite their dominance.
Obviously, had either Lukaku or Werner been available, they might have had extra firepower to put the game to bed.
But while Sherwood agreed that Chelsea were poor in terms of finishing, he insisted that they already proved many times they could win without a natural striker.
“We always ask questions when they don’t win the football match, but they created enough chances,” the former Aston Villa manager told the Premier League Productions (via Optus Sport) about whether Chelsea were missing their No.9s.
“Just like Guardiola, when [Manchester City] don’t win the game, [people say they] need a centre forward. No one’s going to ask him that today after they beat Manchester United.
“No one’s going to mention that to Tuchel, because he’s going to say ‘We score goals, we win games normally, and we’re top of the league still.’
“It’s just wasn’t their day, and Nick Pope had a game of his life.”
Sherwood certainly made a fairly good point as Kai Havertz, who played the No.9 role in Lukaku and Werner’s absences, still scored.
Pope’s brilliant performance aside, Burnley defenders also managed to block Chelsea’s shots 11 times in the game.