Chelsea title charge hit by fixture chaos
CHELSEA’S title bid could be derailed by the Club World Cup.
The Londoners have qualified thanks to winning the Champions League last season. We don’t take the tournament that seriously in England but FIFA want them in the UAE from February 3-12.
Thar means Chelsea have to postpone their Premier League games against Brighton and Arsenal. But the Blues are still in the Carabao Cup too – which could see a THIRD match of the month have to be rescheduled.
That’s if Thomas Tuchel’s mean reach the Wembley final on February 27.
It means there is sure to be a fixture pile-up for Chelsea in the closing weeks of the season.
The Champions League kicks off again in mid-February which shuts down the amount of midweek slots to play up to three games.
Trouble
They will also lose players to the African Cup Of Nations which starts in the New Year.
Goalie Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech are the two biggest names who will be on international duty.
Although there could be trouble ahead, things could be rosier at Stamford Bridge at the moment.
Chelsea were named European club of the year at the Ballon D’Or awards.
Jorginho and N’Golo Kante finished in the top five for the main prize. Mendy was second to Gianluigi
Donnarumma in the race for goalkeeper of the year.
It has been some year for Jorginho after he won Euro 2020 with Italy and the Champions League.
He said: “We have a lot to play for, which keeps us working hard to try to win trophies, because they are what this club is about.
“I am very happy, but I achieved this not by myself, but with the help of the whole team.
“I’m just really grateful for that and I’m really happy and proud of myself and proud of the whole group and proud of this team because we deserve it, all together.”
Mendy has been a real success since moving to the Bridge last year.
He has established himself as one of the best stoppers in the Premier League.
He said: “We did an excellent job last year and we continue.
“For football, 2021 is the best year of my life because it was an amazing season.”