Previews

Chelsea’s final game of the season sees them taking on league champions Leicester. The Foxes have had a brilliant campaign, and they sit 10 points clear at the summit. Will they round off their season with another victory, or can the Blues restore some pride with a strong showing?

Of course, this game was meant to be a send-off for John Terry. The Blues’ captain looks set to leave this summer, so this clash would have been his final game for the Pensioners. But his red card last weekend means he’s missing out here, and he’ll be forced to watch from the stands as this season draws to a close.

It will, however, be a send-off for Guus Hiddink, who is taking charge of his last game. It’s not quite as special as his finale first time round, when he won the FA Cup. Still, the Dutchman has done a solid job since replacing Jose Mourinho, he’s stabilised the club, and guided them into the top half of the table. Things could have been much worse.

Despite that, Blues fans would have been hoping for much better. They’ll be delighted to see the back of this terrible campaign, one that has led to plenty of disappointment at the Bridge. Will this game go the same way, or can Chelsea get one over the newly crowned champions?

Recent form has been mixed for the Blues, they did do well against Tottenham and Liverpool, but they fell apart against Sunderland. For this final game, you’d expect the team will be able to produce something better than their match at the Stadium of Light. They do need to step things up, as they’re facing the champions.

Leicester may have little to play for, but they’re not the kind of side to give up now that the title is won. They were at their best against Everton last weekend, and they’ll be aiming to produce the same again here. They are a team who always gives their all and they’ll be fully focused ahead of this game, with certain individuals still in the hunt for various plaudits.

Jamie Vardy is just a goal behind Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot. Kasper Schmeichel is up for the Golden Glove award, with three other keepers level with him in the fight for that award. They’re all locked on 16 clean sheets this term, and if the Foxes’ stopper gets one at the Bridge, he’s guaranteed to at least share that award.

The Blues made their backing of Leicester public a few weeks ago, so they shouldn’t mind giving the Foxes a guard of honour on their visit this week. The clash between the last two English champions will get plenty of attention, even without anything being on the line. Chelsea can put on a strong showing here, ending a poor year on a high note and giving Hiddink a decent send-off.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 Draw

Chelsea head to the North East on Saturday to take on a struggling Sunderland side this weekend. While the Blues have little to play for, the Black Cats are fighting for their lives. Will Guus Hiddink be able to get his side up for this clash, or will they hand Sunderland a lifeline in the battle to avoid the drop?

Following the incredible game with Tottenham on Monday night, Chelsea are ninth in the league table. They can’t get much higher than that, and right now their league position doesn’t really matter. Sunderland are in a much more important fight, as they look to claw their way to safety.

The Chelsea players’ motivation is the big question ahead of this game. They were clearly up for the match with Spurs, some in the squad admitted that openly. That late push to get level was better than anything the team have done this season. But will they put on a show like that again?

There’s no great rivalry with Sunderland, and they have no real interest in the relegation fight. The players should want to win every game, but the fact that they suddenly turned it on for a crunch game with Tottenham is worrying. Have they just been sitting in first gear all season? And if they have, why hasn’t anyone sorted that out?

There are teams who tend to give up at this stage of the season, they’re also sitting around ninth as well. Once mid-table sides resign themselves to having nothing to play for, thoughts turn to their summer break. Hopefully Guus Hiddink can inspire his side ahead of this one, so that they can finish the season strongly.

There’s a chance that John Terry is in his last run of games at the club. While he’s not officially signed for anyone else yet, he’s also not been offered a new deal. The captain returned to the side on Monday night, and he’s set to start again on Saturday. As things stand, his final game will come against champions Leicester at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink put out a very strong side against Tottenham, but expect a few changes here. This will be another chance for a few younger players to get a start. We’re also hoping that Eden Hazard starts once again, the decision to drop him against Spurs is still a baffling one.

However they line up at the weekend, hopefully they can repeat the display against Tottenham here. Not only do the travelling faithful deserve it, but it also ruins the relegation fight when teams just surrender points to those at the bottom. Hopefully the Blues will put up a fight here, with just three games left. After this they face Liverpool away and then Leicester, and fans will be desperate to see them finish an awful season on a high note.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea play their penultimate home game of the season on Monday night against Tottenham. The Premier League champions might already have lost their trophy by the time this game kicks off. If not, then this will be a massive fixture in the title race, with Spurs still in with a shout. Sadly, that’s a race that the Blues are ridiculously far off. Can they salvage some pride with a result against their rivals on Monday?

Guus Hiddink’s men looked to be king makers in the title race, given how they face the top two in their last two home matches. That all changed in last Monday’s game, which saw Spurs slip up to West Brom. That has left Leicester one victory away from sealing the title, and they head to Old Trafford on Sunday. Regardless of the result in that game, if Chelsea avoid defeat here, they’ll surrender their status as champions.

That’s something that the Blues actually want to happen. Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas have both been open about their preference in the title race. They may simply be playing to the fans, but they have both said they don’t want Spurs winning the title. That certainly adds extra spice to this clash, as if it needed any.

While it’s fair for the players to make statements like that, you have to think that it might not be their place. It’s fine for them to take a dislike to a rival, but they should maybe avoid talking about the title race. After all, this is a race that they missed out on following an almost unprecedented collapse. Probably better if they don’t bring it up!

The team will have to overcome several injuries in order to stop Spurs. John Terry has yet to return, and there’s been no update on when he’ll be back. Loic Remy is struggling for fitness, while Kurt Zouma continues to miss out. Thibaut Courtois is suspended for the game, so Asmir Begovic will continue in goal.

We should see few changes to the side following the impressive win at Bournemouth last weekend. It was one of their best displays all season, so it makes sense that most of that side will keep their place. John Obi Mikel impressed at centre back on Saturday, but Gary Cahill should be ready to come back in his place. The Nigerian would be a worry at the back against the likes of Harry Kane.

Dele Alli is set to miss the game, he’s been charged with violent conduct by the FA. He could possibly miss the end of the season, after he was alleged to have punched West Brom’s Claudio Yacob in their last match.

Even without Alli, Spurs are a very dangerous side. They haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 1990, and they’ll be itching to put that right. While they’re having a great season, we expect the Blues to hold out and deny Spurs the win they need in a tight game.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea head to Bournemouth on Saturday with, amazingly, just three points separating the sides in the table. The Blues are 10th, but they face a fight to stay in the top half given their awful recent form. Following back to back defeats, the team now have to pull themselves together ahead of their final five games of the season.

The first of those matches is away to a side who have already beaten them this term. Bournemouth won at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season, one of the many low points in the first half of the campaign. Another defeat here would be dreadful from the team, after they meekly surrendered their unbeaten run and lost back to back games.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, know they could achieve an incredible feat by finishing in the top half in their debut season in the league and that despite some terrible injuries to star players. They may be 13th, but they have the chance to close the gap in this clash, against a team they’ve already won against. On top of that, the Cherries are much improved now from their win against Chelsea last year.

With forward Callum Wilson now back in the squad, there’s a lot more goal threat in this side. He’ll be a massive boost to this team, and the striker could have a field day here. He’s up against a makeshift Chelsea defence, one which is missing Thibaut Courtois through suspension.

Asmir Begovic will step in between the sticks, while John Terry could well miss out once again. Last weekend saw Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic at centre-half against Manchester City. There’s little pace in that pairing, and unfortunately there are few options for Guus Hiddink to change things.

The Dutchman is likely to be without Eden Hazard, and he said the midfielder is in a dark place right now. There are only limited options to change the team, but hopefully the manager can find a way to alter how they’re playing. Recent performances have lacked any kind of motivation, which has led to two horrible results and performances.

Bournemouth have the work ethic and ability to make this a tough game for the Blues as well. Eddie Howe’s men are still working hard despite already getting themselves clear of relegation. They have a chance to complete a double over the reigning champions and that would cap a great season for them.

Chelsea are drifting towards the end of the campaign with next to nothing to motivate them. It’s hard to see what exactly they’ll be playing for on Saturday. Hiddink will likely rotate his side as much as possible, but his team seem like they’ve already got their sandals on. The way the team are playing, a win here would be a huge surprise. It shows just how far the club have fallen when a draw away at Bournemouth would be considered an improvement.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea face Champions League semi-finalists Manchester City on Saturday evening, as the Blues look to bounce back from defeat at Swansea. After that awful performance at the Liberty, Guus Hiddink called on his men to step up. Will the Dutchman ring the changes after that display, or will he stick with the same side ahead of this clash?

Hiddink will have Diego Costa available again after suspension, and the forward should make a welcome return to the team. Alexandre Pato hasn’t really impressed in his two recent appearances. With Costa back, the Blues have genuine goal threat. Against Swansea, they clearly struggled going forward. At least now they’ll have some cutting edge.

As for the rest of the team, it will be interesting to see just how much Hiddink relies on youth. He’s played a few youngsters so far, but will he keep them in against City? It would be a good learning curve for them, but they could well be overpowered by a very strong City side.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men put in a Chelsea-like performance against PSG in midweek. Not the recent kind of poor Chelsea performance, but the solid, tough to beat European displays the team used to have regularly. That team is gone now, but they’re being emulated by City. What makes it even harder to swallow is that a former Chelsea player, Kevin De Bruyne, scored the winner for them against PSG.

This game will show Chelsea just how far the team has fallen, it’s certainly one that Antonio Conte should be watching. The side he takes over are about to have a massive examination, and it’s hard to see them passing it. City are a strong side full of pace, although they do have a soft defence.

This City side are Champions League semi-finalists, but they’ll be completely changed for next season. Pep Guardiola will have them playing a different way, and most likely pushing for the title. Not only do Chelsea have to match City now, they have to find a way to catch up while the Manchester side improve.

So, while Chelsea don’t have anything to play for right now, this is a big game for them. A performance like the one at Swansea can’t be allowed to happen again, even if the team is practically on holiday. Not only does it make the champions look bad, but it’s also bad for the league. Even with nothing to play for, Chelsea have to push for a win to keep the league competitive and show they might challenge next season.

Hopefully we will see a bit more fight from the Blues, and possibly even a statement of intent. They can’t catch City this season, but they’ll be hoping to next term. A win here would send out a message that they can do that. However, given how Hiddink’s time at Stamford Bridge has gone, another draw looks likely.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea head to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday with little to play for, but they’ll be hoping to continue their strong away form. Guus Hiddink has enjoyed more joy away from home than at Stamford Bridge in his second spell. Right now, the team are on the longest unbeaten run of any side in the top flight, can Swansea find a way to end that?

There is an outside chance of the Blues landing Europa League football for next season. They’re 10th, so they’re a few places off as things stand. But, with only three points separating them and seventh, there is a chance. First they’d need one of the top six, either West Ham or Man United, to win the cup. On top of that, the Blues need a huge run of form, and results going their way.

But, given that the Blues have already tied up dates in the US during pre-season, it’s likely that an early Europa League start isn’t what they want in any case. There’s probably more money to be made from a few pre-season games in America than in a run to the final of Europe’s second competition.

The upside of that is Hiddink is now free to play his younger players and those who are on the fringe of the squad. Had the board been desperate for European football, it’s likely we’d see the first 11 featuring from here on in. That’s opened places up for people who could be at the Bridge for years, and hopefully they can impress in the final few weeks of this woeful campaign.

Matt Miazga and Alexandre Pato were both given appearances at Villa Park last weekend, and they both impressed. They’ve arguably earnt another week in the team, while Kenedy will hopefully get another shot. The Brazilian had to come off at half time last weekend after travelling back from his home country for internationals.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is another who deserves more game time, after he scored against Villa last weekend. Given a run in a more advanced position, he showed a lot of potential. If he can repeat that kind of performance against a Swansea side who press the ball and defend well, then he’s on the right track.

This Swans side have put together a good run on their way to securing safety, and they’ll be looking to finish strongly. The Blues won 5-0 at the Liberty last season, but this fixture has usually been a lot tougher than that. The Welsh outfit will surely be a difficult obstacle for Hiddink’s men this weekend.

While a winning run is exactly what the “higher ups” at the club want, they’ll still be pretty happy. Following Antonio Conte’s appointment, they’ll be hoping for this squad to build up some momentum ahead of a massive season next time around. We’re backing the team to get another good result here, edging them a little closer to the top sides.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea return to Premier League action early on Saturday, as they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Blues will be hoping to consolidate a place in the top half of the table with a victory against the league’s bottom side. Given Villa’s awful displays so far this term, surely Guus Hiddink’s men can take all three points back from this trip to the West Midlands?

The only thing Chelsea have to play for here is a chance to creep further up the league table. They currently sit in 10th spot, and there’s little chance of them making the top six or seven. European qualification therefore seems to be out of the question, and it’s not likely that the higher ups at the club even want a place in the Europa League.

You’d hope that without any goals or pressure from up high, Hiddink lets a few fringe players or youngsters into the team. What could the club learn from playing the first team in the remaining games? The side who won the title last season are experienced, possibly even too experienced, so give someone else a chance to impress.

Diego Costa is suspended again, so hopefully we get chance to glimpse a little more of Bertrand Traore up front. Although, there is a chance that we finally get to see Alexandre Pato take the field in a Chelsea shirt. Falcao is missing again up front, but it’s hard to imagine that he would have got near the squad anyway.

Long term absentee Kurt Zouma is out still, while there’s no sign of a return for Eden Hazard. His injuries this term haven’t seemed too severe, but he has missed a lot of minutes. It seems like he’s either not in any rush to make it back into the team, or he’s becoming worryingly injury prone.

Aston Villa have had an awful campaign so far, so for Hiddink to pick a weakened side here would be justifiable. The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Kenedy should be able to impress against Remi Garde’s men, a side who have lost six straight games. They sit on the verge of relegation, and they look to be just weeks away from having their fate confirmed.

Given Villa’s form, there really isn’t any excuse for Chelsea not winning here. Even if Hiddink plays a rotated side in this clash, they should be more than good enough to take the points. Of course, this is the ground where the Dutchman first took charge of Chelsea, so he’ll be hopeful of returning here and claiming a victory.

This is a game that even staunch fans will have trouble getting excited about, so it’s hard to see why it’s being broadcast on TV. The fact that it is an early game makes it even harder for the away fans to make the trip, and makes it that much more unappealing. We should get to see a few goals here at least, as it’s hard to have any faith in either of these two defences.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea return to the Bridge on Saturday as they desperately look for something to cling to in the run in. The Blues’ final chance of a trophy disappeared on Saturday at Everton, leaving them little to play for. Can they produce an unlikely, and possibly unwanted, Europa League push with a victory at home to high flying rivals West Ham?

The term transition period is often overused in football, but it feels very apt here. Not for the players, but for the fans. Chelsea under Roman Abramovich have been many things, but they’ve always been contenders. 2010-11 was the closest they had come to a dull run in, but even then they had a late push for the title. These next two months will be most redundant in the Abramovich era so far.

Getting used to two months of football with no stakes will be a massive transition for the Chelsea fans. Many of them would have seen the club in worse shape, but that was some time ago. Luckily, they have a game against some pretty bitter rivals to ease the shift in focus. Those rivals come to town with much loftier ambitions than Chelsea currently have.

In an extra blow to Blues fans, they face a West Ham side who are having a great year. They’re in the top five, and they’d move fourth with a win here. The Hammers made it into the draw for the FA Cup semis, with a replay against Man United to come.

Opposing West Ham will be the driving force here, as the fans search for something to care about. That’s unlikely to be the Europa League, given the July start date for the sixth placed side. It could be that we see a very different Chelsea side over the next few games, with Guus Hiddink completely free to include young talent.

Giving a few young stars a run out would help galvanise some support, as it would feel like the team is building towards something. Giving fringe players experience could help going forward, but is Hiddink worried about going forward? He’s already said he’s gone in the summer. He’ll want to leave with the best record possible, now that the trophies are gone. He could end up playing a full strength team.

John Terry should return for the Blues, which will likely push out youngster Kenedy. Eden Hazard is a doubt after he missed out last weekend, while Diego Costa is suspended. He could be set for a long suspension too, which may give Bertrand Traore a run in the side. He’s certainly proved himself worthy.

Whatever team starts, it’s easy to see them lacking motivation. The great shame is the swansong for John Terry will be a slow, uninteresting run of meaningless games. Hopefully they can be followed by a big summer, to avoid this scenario happening again in 12 months’ time but we won’t be banking on it.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea face the second of two decisive fixtures in four days when they head to Goodison Park on Saturday. This FA Cup quarter final is a massive test for Guus Hiddink, a man who has made no secret of his desire to win the FA Cup again. Roberto Martinez also has history in this competition, and his Everton side need a win here just as badly as the Blues.

Of all the possible draws, this is one of the toughest on paper. Goodison Park is a difficult place to go, and it’s a ground that the Blues lost 3-1 at earlier this season. But, that win is one of just four that Everton have recorded at home in the league, so maybe this fixture isn’t the worst draw that the champions could have been handed.

Chelsea expect Diego Costa to be fit again for this tie, while John Terry is a doubt. He’s confirmed to miss the match with PSG and it remains to be seen if he can recover in time here.

Hiddink’s men will certainly need to be at their best, as this Everton side contains plenty of quality players. Romelu Lukaku and John Stones are known well by most at the club, one a former Chelsea target, the other a former Blues prospect. Both are looking like top players, although they’ve drifted in and out of form in Everton’s patchy season.

To be honest, with Everton sitting 11th in the table, Martinez should be thankful of the disaster that Chelsea have had this term. If they were in the title fight or even close to the top four from the start, then there would have been a lot more focus on the Toffees’ troubles. They have a squad packed with players who are worth £30million plus, but they still can’t contend with the likes of Leicester and Southampton at the top.

A lot of that would be forgotten with a cup victory, which makes this tie huge for Martinez. Having seen his side crash out of the League Cup, they’ll need to do better here, as they look to book a trip to Wembley for the semi finals.

Chelsea aren’t in a completely different boat, they too need success to keep their top players, and to attract new ones. This squad needs improving before next term, but why would a top player come to a side mid-table, out of the Champions League and trophyless? A cup win would show that this season was just a blip, and that they’re still contenders for silverware, even at their weakest point.

It would also give the top stars a reason to stay, with Eden Hazard among those who have been linked with a move away. Willian could be as well, and you couldn’t blame him if his head was turned, given how much he’s contributed compared to his teammates. After the season he has had, the Brazilian deserves to be playing at the highest level.

Of course, when it’s make or break for both sides, someone is going home disappointed. Hopefully the experience in the Blues side will give them the edge in this one and given Everton’s defensive problems we fancy Chelsea to get the job done.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea are looking to make it back to back home league wins with victory over Stoke City on Saturday. After thrashing Newcastle last month, the Blues are now hoping to get some momentum going at the Bridge, before attention turns to a massive few days for the club. Can they take a much need victory here, or will this be another slip up?

Momentum seems to be the big thing about the club now, as they look to battle for success in two cup competitions. The Blues have got themselves up the table after a couple of wins, but they’re now playing so well that they can be considered a threat in both the FA Cup and Champions League. It’s going to take a huge effort for them to win either competition, but right now they’re certainly in with a chance.

Next week is a make or break week for their season, with PSG visiting the Bridge on the Wednesday night in the Champions League. That’s followed by a trip to Everton in the FA Cup quarter finals the Saturday after, and that will really test their ambitions for the season.

Guus Hiddink will want his side in good form going into those games, but there’s also a possibility that he’ll hold a couple of players back for those clashes. With the Stoke game in the league much less important than the cup clashes, we might see a rotated side take the field this weekend. Few managers would prioritise the cups ahead of the league, but in Hiddink’s short stay, trophies are the most important thing to him and the best the Premier League can seemingly offer is the booby prize of Europa League qualification.

That does mean the team are running the risk of taking their eye off the ball in the league ahead of this Stoke game. If they do choose to rest a few players, that could leave them at risk of an upset. Stoke have already beaten the champions twice this season, albeit once on penalties. Both those games came at the Britannia Stadium, while unusually Stoke have actually been pretty dangerous on the road this term.

They’ve been through a poor recent run, where they lost three games in a row away from home, but they got back to winning ways at Bournemouth. With their set up, they’re a brilliant counter attacking side, and that could hurt this Chelsea team, as they’re just getting back the confidence to control games. Without their biggest names, this could be a very tough afternoon.

Given the size of the squad, it’s hard to see full scale rotation here. One or two may drop out, but expect Hiddink to try and keep his side winning games, so they go into their crucial week in impressive form. They need to restore their fear factor at the Bridge, and the only way to do that is to keep on winning.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1