Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has shown Chelsea exactly what they're missing as the forward scored two stunning goals for the Blaugrana in a pre-season match against Juventus. Both strikes were of a similar nature, with the Frenchman twisting and turning to lose the opposition defenders before slotting the ball low past the goalkeeper.
The 25-year-old's dynamism and two-footedness makes him unpredictable and a nightmare to defend against. His main problem across his Barcelona career so far has been injuries, missing 705 days of action (almost two years) through injury since joining the club in 2017.
It seemed to be enough to see clubs back away from making a move for Dembele this summer, with his contract expiring at the Camp Nou. Chelsea were one of the sides linked, with Thomas Tuchel seemingly eyeing a reunion with the forward he coached during his stint at Borussia Dortmund.
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It clearly wasn't to be though, as the World Cup winner signed a new deal until 2024 that saw him take a pay cut on his previous deal. His recent showcasing of his skill show exactly what the Blues have missed out on when it comes to their chances in front of goal: unpredictability.
While last season will have shown that problem over a longer period of time, the latest stint of pre-season games have also highlighted the issue. The incoming Raheem Sterling will be hoping to change that, but Tuchel fumed after a recent 4-0 loss to Arsenal over the lack of changes in his squad.
“I cannot guarantee we will be ready [for the start of the season] in two weeks. It's the same players so why should anything change? We will see hopefully development but at the moment we have the same issues because we have the same players."
With the season just over one week away, there will be concerns and pressure over how the side start the campaign. Meanwhile they have until September 1 to utilise the transfer window, but they may be cursing their luck in missing out on a move for Dembele come the end of it.
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