Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has pointed to the Blues’ defensive issues as a major concern this season, arguing that the club has yet to adequately replace former centre-back Thiago Silva.

Speaking to sportscasting.com, Wright-Phillips highlighted Chelsea’s need for experience at the back, suggesting this could help address their defensive frailties:

“They let Thiago Silva go, but they didn’t replace him. I think they need more experience in the defence.”

While Chelsea have shown promise in attack, Wright-Phillips believes their struggles stem from conceding too many goals:

“They’re not struggling to score goals. That’s not a problem for them right now. The problem is they’re conceding goals. If they can cut some of those mistakes then again, we see a different Chelsea.”

Chelsea’s defensive woes have been evident in recent games, including their 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day, where lapses at the back proved costly. Wright-Phillips’ comments underline the need for the Blues to strengthen their defence if they are to remain competitive in the Premier League.