Chelsea are entering a run of games that, on paper, doesn’t look as difficult as the run of games they just went through.
Our tough run heading into December from November was always considered a make or break for Chelsea’s season, and in fact we threatened to have a very good time through this period to begin with. Despite getting good results during this run of matches and putting in some good performances, it ended abysmally with bad defeats and poor performances, increasing the pressure on the coach, players, managers and owners.
Many fans are now calling for the dismissal of another coach. I won’t go into that again, but I made my point on it clear several times last week and this week: There’s no way we’re firing another coach right now.
But I do recognize that these upcoming games have probably now become decisive as such. They are now enormously important and key for many reasons.
As I reported yesterday on my personal Substack page ‘If Phillips Talks Chelsea’, the club really doesn’t want to fire Pochettino and want to give him every opportunity to succeed at this club. They recognize the complexities and unprecedented situations he has faced, and there is still no firm finger pointed at him.
But as I also said yesterday in the same report, a series of defeats could soon change the mood and stance of the board, and these upcoming games are key to that.
In fact, the League Cup match is considered very important by the board because it is now admitted to be our best chance of success this season, at least in terms of titles. So that match has become important, as have the upcoming Premier League matches.
I’m not saying he’ll definitely be sacked if we lose at the weekend and get knocked out of the League Cup, but it could certainly change the mood of the owners.
Chelsea host Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge this weekend and we simply HAVE to win this one hands down. If we don’t, fan pressure will increase, the place will become hugely toxic, the players’ heads will drop even more, Pochettino will become even more frustrated and the drama and turmoil will continue with additional media pressure and probably more stories. of “internal issues” coming to light.
So make no mistake, this IS now a must-win game. The players need it, the coach needs it and the fans need it. We really need to use this game as a strength to get up and start getting back on track.
And then on Tuesday night next week we will be at Stamford Bridge again to face Newcastle in the League Cup quarter-final. And as I said earlier, this game has now become huge as well. The owners are keen to win some trophies, of course. Don’t we all do it?
This has always been our best chance to win a trophy this season, so we have to do everything we can to win this game too. In reality, Newcastle are also more than beatable.
As I’ve said lately, I keep my expectations at zero because then the only way is up. But both games can be won, although lately we have been very bad. We actually didn’t play badly against Everton and we don’t have to go back too far to see our very good performances this season.
Chelsea then finishes December by playing Wolves, Crystal Palace and Luton Town, all very winnable games.
Although the biggest fear I have about all of these games is the real possibility of Chelsea ruining all of our Christmases! You all know how much I love Christmas, and Chelsea playing on Christmas Eve really sucks at putting me in a bad mood that day! Don’t do it Chelsea, don’t ruin Christmas for millions of boys and girls around the world!! Don’t become Grinch FC or Scrooge United!
But these games are there to be won. Of course, there is never an easy game in this league. But if these are truly decisive games for Pochettino and he had the opportunity to choose the opponents, then these teams would probably be the most favorable ones he would like to face.
GREAT games these, and a really crucial moment in our season is coming up. Once these games have been played, we will have entered the second half of the season, and I truly believe that if the owners are going to make any major decisions in terms of coaching, new signings and anything else, then it will be after these games. Unless, of course, we arrive at Palace having already lost to Sheffield United, Newcastle and Wolves, that could well force us to make a decisive decision.
EVERYONE needs to step up and do much better, the coach, the players and everyone else.
Let’s take a deep breath and get ready to start again. Sigh.
