Getting to a cup final really helped the mood at Chelsea. Things would be a lot bleaker if the league was out only outlet. Our indifferent form sees us wedged into 11th place, seemingly unable to get higher than 10th or lower than 12th.
Especially going to the Gtech Stadium our record is poor, and given they’re now well in the relegation fight, they’ll be as motivated as ever. They’ve won just 2 of their last 12 games in the league. Losing to them is just unthinkable – although we did manage it at home in October.
After that we welcome a wounded Newcastle team to Stamford Bridge. They’re also struggling for form, but that didn’t stop them taking us apart at St James’ Park earlier in the season. They came into that game on the back of some dreadful results, and still beat us 4-1.
After that is the hardest test of all – a lunchtime kickoff against in-form Arsenal. They’re in the best form we’ve seen for years right now, scoring goals and not conceding chances. Their win over Liverpool a month ago looks to have really kicked them into gear, and if they carry on like this for the next two weeks we’ll be very worried about getting a thrashing off them.
We do at least close out the month with a relatively kind matchup against a collapsing Burnley side.
Where will we be after that run? Probably still somewhere between 10th and 12th, let’s face it. But we’re into a critical period now for the team.
By the time we get beyond the Burnley game, we should have Romeo Lavia, Marc Cucurella, maybe even Reece James back fit. At that point, the squad will be at close to full strength, and expectations of what fans want to see from their team will only grow.
All year the excuses have been focused on missing players, now the bill is due. If we don’t look a lot better with everyone fit, the lack of progress may prove fatal for Mauricio Pochettino come the end of the season.
On the other hand, if we start looking better and better, his reasoning will have been validated.
