As we enter day two of January, the main focus after all is not only going to be all concerning the switch market, despite the fact that I’m predicting drama as soon as once more, however Mauricio Pochettino and the gamers could have an enormous concentrate on home cups.
And it’s fortunate actually that we managed to have a run within the League Cup, as a result of January would have been very quiet when it comes to fixtures in any other case.
Listed below are January’s fixtures:
#Chelsea’s January fixtures 🗓️
What number of wins do you anticipate out of those 5?🤔 pic.twitter.com/aWR9hlpQpe
— Discuss Chelsea (@talkchelsea) January 1, 2024
The FA Cup is my favorite competitors, surely. It brings nostalgia, and a historic soccer feeling. It’s additionally the one competitors that connects grassroots to the skilled recreation, and I like that about it.
And that’s the place we start this Saturday in our subsequent match, dwelling to Preston North Finish within the FA Cup.
After which on the ninth, it’s as soon as once more our most necessary recreation of the season thus far, one thing that we discover ourselves saying just about each recreation of late.
This recreation, being the primary of two legs, has turn into HUGELY necessary as a result of it’s nonetheless our greatest route into European soccer subsequent season – we’re three video games away from that now.
Based on Soccer London, the workforce that wins The Carabao Cup robotically qualifies for the Europa Convention League. Nevertheless, they will additionally qualify for the Convention League even when they don’t win the competitors. If Liverpool have been to win it, and likewise qualify for European soccer by way of one other methodology, the place could be handed to the highest-placed Premier League workforce that has not already certified for Europe.
This may imply that ending seventh could possibly be sufficient for a European spot if the Premier League have been to be handed an additional Champions League spot for the workforce that finishes in fifth.
So Chelsea’s possibilities to get European soccer this season, albeit within the lowest European League/comp, continues to be very a lot alive and kicking. However they merely HAVE to proceed going all out for the League Cup, they usually very a lot will. We should not underestimate simply how necessary European soccer at any stage is for us subsequent season, financially and likewise bringing extra video games for a squad that’s nonetheless anticipated to be fairly massive.
Being handed Middlesbrough for our semi-final was the most effective draw we might have gotten. And taking part in Preston after which Middlesbrough in our subsequent two video games actually provides us an opportunity to construct extra momentum after our final two wins in a row, and actually stamp some confidence and authority down collectively on this workforce.
Chelsea will go all out in each of those home cups, and so they need to. I actually can not see Mauricio Pochettino going for a ‘weakened’ facet in both cup competitors. I suppose there might be an opportunity to relaxation some legs for some gamers on Saturday after no midweek fixture this week and an opportunity of prolonged relaxation, however I totally anticipate Pochettino to be taking this recreation VERY severely.
Mauricio Pochettino
Between the cup video games we have now native neighbours Fulham take just a few steps throughout to Stamford Bridge for what once more on paper is a recreation that’s greater than winnable.
I’ve misplaced lots of confidence, optimism and perception on this workforce in current weeks/months, however we face 4 video games in a row the place they might actually go a good distance in restoring a few of that for me, and lots of different followers.
My expectations stay low although, as a result of as I’ve mentioned earlier than, I grew fed up of being let down and disenchanted week after week. However we might genuinely win our subsequent 4 video games in a row video games right here, and so long as we don’t get complacent alongside the best way, and what an enormous enhance this might probably be for us all, and for the membership on the entire.
In fact, the social gathering could possibly be brief lived on the ultimate day of the month when we have now to go to Anfield and play present desk toppers Liverpool. Though, actually something can occur on this league.
Don’t get me mistaken, none of Preston, Middlesbrough, or Fulham might be straightforward video games, FAR from it. And actually, there’s extra potential banana skins and turmoil in these video games – think about if we lose to Preston!? However actually, they’re greater than winnable matches and we needs to be coming by means of these with an excellent ending.
Like I mentioned, I’m not optimistic once more but, however there’s an actual alternative for us now this month. We might actually set ourselves up for an excellent begin to the second half of the season. I don’t even care that we aren’t taking part in Premier League opposition, it’s a must to solely beat what’s forward of you, and we simply want wins, and convincing performances, to spice up confidence proper now.
