Chelsea v Stoke City - It's important that Chelsea react tomorrow.
It's been a crappy week for Chelsea fans around the world with back to back defeats in the Premier League and Champions League. The p...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2014/04/chelsea-v-stoke-city-its-important-that.html?m=0
It's been a crappy week for Chelsea fans around the world with back to back defeats in the Premier League and Champions League. The pressure is on at Stamford Bridge to deliver the right result over the next four days. Now more than ever, we need a massive reaction.
Defeat tomorrow and on Tuesday night will end our season. Two victories and we are right back in contention once again.
We have arrived at the business end of the season and it's a time for cool, calm heads. A time for the collective to come together, get their heads right and to get focused once again. Jose Mourinho needs to pull everyone together for the massive four days ahead.
Stoke come to Stamford Bridge looking to complete the double over Chelsea after victory earlier in the season 3-2. Some people may think that this game is a "home banker" but I wouldn't be so sure. This Chelsea team will be low in confidence and may be a little bit more nervous than usual.
Mark Hughes will be licking his lips heading into the game. He would have scouted Chelsea over the past two games and would be looking to make life more than difficult. With the pain in the arse that is Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch up top, both Gary Cahill and John Terry will be tested throughout.
I want to see more from Petr Cech as I still believe personally, that he could have done more for ALL three of PSG's goals we conceded as I stated and explained here. I want him to be committed to coming off of his line, to gather the ball in the air confidently and to impose his frame and presence in the box. If he or we allow high balls to come in anywhere near the penalty spot or closer Cech MUST come and take charge of the situation. If he doesn't, we are in trouble.
We welcome three players back to the squad ahead of the game in Ashley Cole, Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic. Ramires serves the third game of his suspension for being sent off at Villa and Mikel is out injured. Marko Van Ginkel continues to work on his fitness and will play in an hour or so with the Under 21's tonight.
So who starts for Chelsea? Matic will come straight back into the middle of midfield and I expect David Luiz to continue next to him. Hazard, Oscar and Willian should continue as our attacking three behind Fernando Torres and as I wrote in my previous post, Torres now needs to deliver after receiving public backing (albeit temporary possibly?) from Mourinho this afternoon.
Although Ashley Cole is back in the squad, I expect our back four to remain the same as they have been for weeks now.
Although we have had major disappointment in the last few games our season is not over. We are still right in the mix and another three points is vital tomorrow at the Bridge. Chelsea just need to react in the right way and to channel all that frustration into a solid, professional performance to deliver an all important three points.
Anything less now is a disaster!