Hughes may be right to pick reserves, but only if he beats Rafa
Under-pressure boss gambles in Chelsea rout
FAIR PLAY to the Stoke City manager Mark Hughes, he is prepared to live and die by the sword.
The Welshman played the percentages on Saturday, fielding an understrength team in the embarrassing 5-0 loss at Chelsea.
His chances of winning at Stamford Bridge were, on paper, slim. Their chances of victory at home against Newcastle today are far greater.
So Hughes gambled, resting key players Joe Allen, Xherdan Shaqiri and Maxim Choupo-Moting against the champions. It’s a gamble Hughes knows must pay off. If it doesn’t, then he knows the consequences.
But credit to Hughes. He was forthright and honest, standing by his decision to rip out the heart of his team for the crushing loss to Antonio Conte’s men.
‘We take the TV money and the pound of flesh and this is when we have to pay it back, I suppose,’ said Hughes.
‘It’s harder for us because we don’t have the strength in depth that the top teams have and they can turn it on very, very quickly.
‘I made key decisions in terms of looking after players who are crucial in terms of what we are trying to do but I’ll stand by it because we’re trying to get points on the board.
‘Given the game against Chelsea, it was always going to be tough to get points and I had to make the decision to make sure we were strong going into Monday and let’s hope we can get the maximum points.
‘With hindsight if you come and tell me after the game that “you shouldn’t have done what you did” then I’ll have to accept it.
‘But as I stand here I am very comfortable with the decision because I know I have a team ready to go, fit, fresh and in better shape for Monday.
‘I don’t like the fact I had to make key decisions that on the face of it looked like I weakened us because I’m not like that as a person. I want to win every game I go into.
‘But we understood that before the game, we understood it after.
‘I don’t think it damages the integrity of the league. I think it’s the schedule. Given a fair wind and a poor period of recovery between our game today and Monday, I would have gone stronger but the fact that we’re playing on Monday meant I couldn’t.’ Stoke chairman Peter Coates remains in support of his manager, despite a growing section of fans calling for Hughes to be sacked. Some of the fans stormed out of Stamford Bridge after just 25 minutes on Saturday, by which time their side were already 3-0 down thanks to goals from Antonio Rudiger, Danny Drinkwater and Pedro.
But defeat against Newcastle today could force the Potters’ board into a rethink.
On the supporter walk-out, Hughes added: ‘That’s their decision but it doesn’t help us. If they paid their money, you’d think they would stay until the conclusion. I’ve no doubt they’ll be out in numbers again.’
Antonio Conte, the Chelsea manager, spoke of his disappointment at Chelsea’s inability to close the gap on runaway leaders Manchester City, despite picking up 32 points from a possible 39.
‘I don’t like to have this points gap between us and Manchester City. I don’t think my team deserves to have this type of gap,’ Conte said.
‘I am not angry, but disappointed for this, but at the same time I know we are doing the best but there is a team on a fantastic run and we must have great respect.’ CHELSEA (3-4-3): Courtois 7; Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6, Rudiger 7; Moses 7 (Zappacosta 57min, 7), Kante 6 (Bakayoko 65, 5), Drinkwater 7, Alonso 6; Willian 8, Morata 5 (Batshuayi 72, 5), PEDRO 8.5. Subs not used: Caballero, Fabregas, Hazard, Christensen. Scorers: Rudiger 3, Drinkwater 9, Pedro 23, Willian 73 pen, Zappacosta 88. Booked: Pedro. Manager: Antonio Conte 7 STOKE CITY (4-4-2): Butland 6.5; Edwards 5, Cameron 5, Wimmer 5, Tymon 5; Diouf 5, Fletcher 5, Adam 6 (Choupo-Moting 80), Afellay 5 (Ngoy 72, 5), Ramadan 6; Berahino 4. Subs not used: Allen, Shaqiri, Crouch, Grant. Booked: Diouf. Manager: Mark Hughes 5. Referee: Kevin Friend 6.5. Attendance: 41,433.