Sky Sports activities pundit Paul Merson has surprisingly claimed that he expects Chelsea to win their Champions League quarter-final tie regardless of being handed a troublesome draw.
What is going on on at Chelsea?
Graham Potter withstood a disastrous run of kind to ultimately flip Chelsea’s fortunes round, placing collectively quite a lot of wins within the league in addition to knocking Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League, though they had been held at dwelling this weekend.
In Europe, they’ve been drawn in opposition to holders Actual Madrid within the quarter-finals, and given the type of each groups, it’s laborious to look previous the Spanish champions as favourites.
Nonetheless, Merson said on Sky Sports activities (through Soccer Day by day) that Chelsea’s current swap to a again three has made them harmful going ahead – and he now expects them to beat Carlo Ancelotti’s facet.
He mentioned: “I believe Chelsea are a harmful, harmful soccer workforce. The Champions League draw ain’t form, however I do anticipate them to beat Actual Madrid over two legs, I do.
“I do not see them [finishing] within the Champions League locations, however they’re able the place they are going to be capable to relaxation individuals. Earlier than the Actual Madrid sport, he might relaxation the entire 10 gamers that he believes are going to be the gamers enjoying in opposition to Actual Madrid.”
What has Chelsea’s largest downside been this season?
Chelsea have been strong defensively, as solely Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis have higher defensive data. The primary concern has been scoring targets, as they’re at present averaging round one aim per sport – which is considerably decrease than anybody within the high half of the desk.
Attacking signings similar to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke are but to have an effect on their assault, however the latter two have appeared promising at instances since they arrived in January.
With no recognised, in-form striker, Chelsea have lacked targets at instances, and their lack of cutting-edge up entrance contributed closely to their nightmare run of kind.
They’ve additionally suffered accidents to key gamers similar to Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and N’Golo Kante all through the marketing campaign, and regardless of their massive squad, they’ve struggled to keep up consistency till this current run.
Their massive squad means they are going to be capable to closely rotate their facet forward of the video games in opposition to Actual Madrid, and this might assist them achieve a health edge over the 14-time winners, however it is going to be a troublesome ask to beat them over two legs.
