Chelsea face Nottingham Forest on Saturday away from house 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 have now 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 quick reminiscences. All of us keep in mind latest video games and intervals the place we have now performed properly for even three video games in a row, however then fully 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 kind and doing it once more on Saturday towards Forest will definitely assist improve my optimism a bit 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 awesome probability now to maintain this going and construct on the positivity of the final couple of weeks, as a result of we have now been unimaginable, particularly within the Tottenham and West Ham wins. Has the tide turned? Have we turned that nook? This recreation on Saturday will go a bit technique to answering these questions.
Forest away although is a fairly harmful recreation to go an play proper now, purely as a result of we’re three video games off the top of the season, and they’re nonetheless not secure in any respect from the relegation zone. Some extent and much more so three factors, could be enormous for them and this will probably be handled like a cup remaining for Nuno Espirito Santo and his gamers.
They received their final recreation 3-1 away from house towards Sheffield United, which was an enormous outcome for them. Former Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a brace. and the way he would like to show just a few individuals fallacious on Saturday too.
In latest video games, Forest have solely narrowly misplaced to Liverpool and Brighton, they usually have had hard-earned attracts towards Luton City and Crystal Palace. They’ve additionally crushed Fulham 3-1 and drawn 2-2 towards Wolves. They’ll setup robust to beat at house and towards larger sides will play on the counter. They just lately misplaced 2-0 at house to Manchester Metropolis, however that they had extra makes an attempt on purpose (14 vs 11) than Metropolis did, regardless of solely having 33% possession.
Chelsea should be on it defensively and in transition on the counter and if we do lose the ball excessive up the pitch.
We will count on Chelsea to boss possession, however identical to they’ve within the final two and a half video games (I’m really sick of writing that 😂), they might want to profit from stated possession and be as scientific as we have now been of late. If we do this, then we should not have any issues in any respect getting previous this potential banana pores and skin recreation.
Mauricio Pochettino can have the ultimate staff 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 this time as a result of everyone knows that most of the time, 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 assume we’ll win this recreation. I don’t assume it is going to be an enormous scoreline like West Ham, as a result of they had been simply so horrible towards us and I don’t count on Forest to be in the identical state as they had been in – however I do assume we’ll win this 2-0.
I’ve not predicted many wins currently, so hopefully the actual fact I’m now predicting a win doesn’t come again to chew me!
The one factor that does stick in my thoughts is we misplaced the house fixture towards Forest 1-0 again in September, so that they know they’ll 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 remaining video games.
Former Blue Ola Aina, who will probably be seeking 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 preserve 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 means again!
