More about having a world class keeper behind them and also the continued improvement of John Stones who is growing into a future captain. Although as we all know the fullbacks on both sides have been really poor for two seasons and should have been upgraded sooner.
He so often dived in and was left sprawling with neither man nor ball connected. He's now exhibiting a lot more control and thought, which is why, I think, he has developed a lot more consistency. PabZab used to do the same thing when he first came. There'd be a string of free kicks just outside the box, but he removed those lapses from his game and I think Otters is doing the same.
Yesterday, the number of times we caught Chelsea players offside, because Otamendi was in line rather than stood behind playing people onside, like an idiot, as he did v Benteke only a week ago. Also against Shalke, he caught their player out, late in the game. Big improvement.
This offside line which we are not actually playing apparently, thus it's not a mistake, when he alone, is stood two yards deeper than anyone else, in his 3rd season at the club.
If he had defended v Chelsea, like he did v Liverpool & Palace, Morata would have killed us, in the first 15 mins & this whole forum would be in meltdown.
He was excellent, yesterday.