We’ve reached the midway level of the Premier League season, and it’s been a usually fascinating and unpredictable one for Chelsea and their followers.
There have been a wide range of opinions about how the Blues would get on this season, however even probably the most optimistic of pundits didn’t have them doing so nicely that that they had the prospect to high the desk at Christmas.
Sadly Enzo Maresca’s males blinked within the face of such lofty aspirations and drew at struggling Everton. Then in the three games since they’ve obtained worse fairly than recovering their kind – a defeat to Fulham, a defeat to Ipswich, then a draw with Crystal Palace to make it 4 with no win.
They’re nonetheless clinging on to a spot within the high 4, however any discuss of title aspirations are lengthy gone. Liverpool, who may have been overtaken on that fateful night at Goodison Park, are actually a full 8 factors and a recreation in hand clear.
Nonetheless, a title race was by no means real looking. Maresca stated it himself many occasions. So what are Chelsea’s actual goals this season? A have a look at odds – and you’ll read more here – present that the Blues are nonetheless closely favoured to make the Champions League locations. After all they’re helped by the truth that there are more likely to be 5 groups from the Premier League who qualify this 12 months.
We’d agree with the bookies on that – we’ve seen sufficient from this staff to assume they will get again into gear and begin successful once more. However there are additionally causes to be nervous.
Chelsea haven’t simply had some unfortunate outcomes, they’ve been measurably worse on this poor run, going by the stats. Dropping Wesley Fofana to harm has damage them each defensively and in with the ability to play greater up the pitch. Romeo Lavia’s harm points haven’t helped hold the midfield contemporary both.
Then there’s the competitors – Nottingham Forest appear to be the true deal. They’re not only a harmful staff to play, they’re a real risk to make the highest 4 now. The identical goes for Newcastle, who all of a sudden look an excellent staff once more now Sandro Tonali is again of their midfield. Bournemouth have misplaced a few key gamers to harm this week, however they’re ok to trigger anybody bother – as we’ll discover out in our subsequent Premier League recreation.
So whereas the highest 4 (and even 5) ought to nonetheless be our purpose – the previous couple of weeks present that nothing could be taken with no consideration.
