Chelsea face Nottingham Forest on Saturday away from dwelling within the Premier League for the early night 5.30pm kick off.
It’s an opportunity for Chelsea’s gamers, Mauricio Pochettino, and now Todd Boehly, to place their cash the place their mouths are and proceed the momentum and extra importantly, the highest performances we’ve seen throughout the final two and a half video games. They’ve all talked the speak this week, now it’s time to stroll the stroll.
I believe many are getting carried away and have brief recollections. All of us bear in mind current video games and intervals the place we’ve performed effectively for even three video games in a row, however then utterly fold over and drop off once more within the subsequent two. I believe for my very own sanity I’m remaining very cautious and never getting overly excited like others appear to be. However persevering with this good type and doing it once more on Saturday towards Forest will definitely assist enhance my optimism somewhat bit extra. However even when we do, I’ll nonetheless be remaining cautiously optimistic. I’ve seen and heard all of it earlier than.
However, we do have an incredible probability now to maintain this going and construct on the positivity of the final couple of weeks, as a result of we’ve been unimaginable, particularly within the Tottenham and West Ham wins. Has the tide turned? Have we turned that nook? This sport on Saturday will go somewhat solution to answering these questions.
Forest away although is a fairly harmful sport to go an play proper now, purely as a result of we’re three video games off the tip of the season, and they’re nonetheless not secure in any respect from the relegation zone. A degree and much more so three factors, can be big for them and this will likely be handled like a cup last for Nuno Espirito Santo and his gamers.
They received their final sport 3-1 away from dwelling towards Sheffield United, which was an enormous consequence for them. Former Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a brace. and the way he would like to show a number of folks flawed on Saturday too.
In current video games, Forest have solely narrowly misplaced to Liverpool and Brighton, and so they have had hard-earned attracts towards Luton City and Crystal Palace. They’ve additionally overwhelmed Fulham 3-1 and drawn 2-2 towards Wolves. They will setup robust to beat at dwelling and towards larger sides will play on the counter. They just lately misplaced 2-0 at dwelling to Manchester Metropolis, however they’d extra makes an attempt on purpose (14 vs 11) than Metropolis did, regardless of solely having 33% possession.
Chelsea must be on it defensively and in transition on the counter and if we do lose the ball excessive up the pitch.
We are able to count on Chelsea to boss possession, however similar to they’ve within the final two and a half video games (I’m really sick of writing that 😂), they might want to benefit from mentioned possession and be as medical as we’ve been of late. If we try this, then we shouldn’t have any issues in any respect getting previous this potential banana pores and skin sport.
Mauricio Pochettino may have the ultimate workforce information tomorrow, however there ought to be extra boosts and returns from harm and naturally, Christopher Nkunku ought to be within the squad once more. There’s no level me predicting the lineup at present as a result of everyone knows that as a rule, we get the shock of extra gamers being added to the harm listing from nowhere, so I’m not going to jinx something!
I do nevertheless suppose we’ll win this sport. I don’t suppose it will likely be an enormous scoreline like West Ham, as a result of they have been simply so horrible towards us and I don’t count on Forest to be in the identical state as they have been in – however I do suppose we’ll win this 2-0.
I’ve not predicted many wins currently, so hopefully the very fact I’m now predicting a win doesn’t come again to chunk me!
The one factor that does stick in my thoughts is we misplaced the house fixture towards Forest 1-0 again in September, in order that they know they will beat us. Earlier than that defeat, we hadn’t misplaced to Forest since 1997! Forest additionally had their factors deduction upheld after enchantment, in order that has made them much more decided to earn these factors again within the last video games.
Former Blue Ola Aina, who will likely be trying to lock down their left hand aspect together with Hudson-Odoi, says the rejected factors enchantment doesn’t matter to the squad and they’re going to maintain doing their job to earn factors again within the Premier League.
However Chelsea, particularly if we’re utilizing the momentum and actually have turned the nook, ought to be going there on Saturday and getting all three factors, with none actual doubts. Do we wish Europa League or not? If we do, it is a excellent probability to strengthen our combat for that. Go forward and show we’re on our approach again!
