Now it gets serious.
Liam Rosenior has made a positive start for Chelsea. There were routine wins over Brentford, Paphos, Crystal Palace and Wolves, as well as more thrilling wins away to Napoli and at home to restore three points to West Ham.
Losing to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final was disappointing and a missed opportunity, but understandable.
But that changed with wins at home to Leeds and Burnley to end a draw in their last two Premier League home games.
Chelsea now face a difficult game. It is the toughest run-in among teams competing for Champions League qualification.
As Rosenior explained, the pressure really grew after they “got four points from two home games”.
Currently, it is not certain that we will enter the top 5.
Chelsea are currently ahead of Liverpool on goal difference. And now they must protect that advantage through a series of matches, starting with away games at Arsenal and Aston Villa, before Chelsea host Manchester City and Manchester United back-to-back in mid-April.
They then have to travel to Anfield on May 9th.
And that’s before factoring in a Champions League knockout draw with Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle and an FA Cup draw with Wrexham, which will reduce training time and put a strain on resources.
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Liam Rosenior reflects on Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at home to weak Burnley after the Blues conceded in stoppage time.
It is this run of games that will influence the Opta prediction model, which predicts Chelsea will finish sixth. This would be a serious setback after Enzo Maresca finished fourth last season and the loss of Champions League revenue complicated their summer transfer window plans.
It will also be a finale that adds to criticism of Chelsea’s squad-building. The focus on youth and potential rather than experience has led to a lack of composure and cutting-edge technology.
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WATCH FREE: Highlights from Chelsea vs Burnley’s Premier League match.
After Chelsea’s draw with Burnley, Rosenior and opposition manager Scott Parker spoke about the quality of the Blues squad. They sit third in Opta’s Expected Points (xG) table based on expected goals data.
In fact, they have produced a higher xG score than any other team in the Premier League.
However, they have also underperformed in that metric, scoring around four fewer goals than they should have, putting them in the fourth-worst position.
Sunday, March 1st 4:25 PM
Kickoff at 4:30 PM
This is a Chelsea team that ranks first in the PPDA (Passes Per Opposition Defensive Action) statistic, a measure of how quickly a team gets the ball back. But they scored 12 goals from set pieces. Only a larger amount of teams were allowed.
Both boxes were found wanting at key moments.
For Chelsea supporters, this season has been one of promise and glimpses of what this talented young group can do, but it has also been a season of untimely setbacks, mistakes and stoppages that have cost the team at crucial moments.
Now the room for error is minimal. Now it gets serious.
Lessons to be learned…
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Sky Sports pundits Paul Merson and Jamie Redknapp criticized Chelsea for their poor performance in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg loss to Arsenal, with Liam Rosenior responding to the comments at the post-match press conference.
Chelsea started February with a loss to Arsenal. They will start March there, hoping to learn from their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat.
Don’t be passive… sky sports Pundit Paul Merson criticized Chelsea after the cup tie for not revamping Arsenal after they led 3-2 in the first leg.
Chelsea could not be less enthusiastic on this Premier League trip. But Rosenior will also not want a repeat of the slow possession display that characterized last week’s draw with Burnley. Chelsea were cruising but failed to score a second goal and Wesley Fofana’s red card changed the match.
“I want to make an incision. I want us to continue to generate waves of attack,” Rosenior said after the draw. He won’t achieve such dominance at the Emirates, but in possession Chelsea will have to show intent.
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Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior had several standout moments before, during and after the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Arsenal.
Set-piece conflict resolution… Gian Fleming’s header to secure a point for Burnley at Stamford Bridge was superb. But it helps when there is a free run and an unmarked opportunity to meet James Ward-Prowse’s precise delivery.
Rosenior was aware of Ward-Prowse’s quality delivery and filled the stadium with giants when Chelsea were down to 10. But he was angry at the player for “not doing his job” and left Fleming free.
He is the Premier League’s best set-piece scorer against Arsenal and also scored from a corner against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Keep your head… Chelsea have received eight red cards this season. Rosenior, interim Calum McFarlane and Maresca insisted there were no discipline issues with the team. Well, there are definitely instances where composure is lacking. And those characteristics will be very important to Emirates.
Don’t forget, this is a must-win for Arsenal as they look to consolidate their Premier League title. Emotions will be high and Chelsea will need to stay focused.
It’s not just about red cards. After Fofana’s sending-off against Burnley, Rosenior said draws were added to the list of matches away to Wolves, away to Crystal Palace and at home to Leeds, where Chelsea “gave up a goal due to a lack of concentration and lack of responsibility”.
Chelsea team news ahead of Arsenal away
Fofana is expected to be suspended from London, Mark Cucurella is out and Estevao’s availability is uncertain.
Romeo Rabia returned to the bench against Burnley and will be hoping to bounce back from injury.
