The scene was always set, in retrospect. Jose riding off into the sunset having beaten the old boys both home and away shouldn’t really have surprised anyone. Carlo Ancelotti, having made a point of declaring the Champions League “the one to win”, now returns to domestic matters this weekend with Chelsea facing a double gameweek on the road…
The Opponents
Blackburn play host to Chelsea this weekend, with Big Sam’s team having lost their last two league games, both away from home. Ewood Park is something of a fortress, however, and Blackburn will be a difficult proposition for Ancelotti’s team. They have lost just twice at home all season, with one loss in their last 13. Four home wins on the trot, with three clean sheets in the process, suggest Chelsea may not have it their own way.
Ancelotti then takes his team to meet up with their old gaffer Avram Grant, facing a Portsmouth side that, following the deduction of 9 points this week, are pretty much just playing for pride, with a mere 10 league pts on the board now. Despite the heroics that have seen them reach the FA Cup semi finals, Portsmouth have won just 1 of their last 11 league games, against Brian Laws Burnley.
Current Form
Chelsea have the worst form of the title contenders, and with injuries to the likes of Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien, combined with John Terry’s recent loss of form, have far less defensive solidity than in recent times. With both games away from home, the stats of their last six on the road reads: W2 D3 L1 F7 A5. They have recorded only two clean sheets, and have not scored more than two goals in that time, though only failed to find the net once. Hardly an impressive record, and Ancelotti will have to dig deep into his experience to ensure this gameweek keeps their league ambitions firmly on track.
Rotation Risk
The above-mentioned injuries mean Chelsea are perhaps less prone to rotation as Ancelotti likes. With the 4-3-3 system, Anelka, playing as a winger, may give way to Joe Cole or Kalou with more frequency. Carvalho, missing in the recent West Ham and Inter games, may replace Alex if fit.
Potential Targets
Branislav Ivanovic
The big Serb has been solid this season and has surely cemented his position as first-choice right back in the absence of Jose Bosingwa. He has five assists to his name, only one less than Anelka and Malouda, and more than Michael Ballack.
Predicted Return: 1 clean sheet
Florent Malouda
As highlighted in the latest Technical Area piece, Malouda’s form has been fantastic since moving to his favoured left wing berth, and his 16 pts total in the previous league game against West Ham is indicative of recent performances. One of the club’s main men this season.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 2 assists, 1 clean sheet, 1 Bonus Point
Frank Lampard
Six goals, two assists and ten Bonus Points in his last eight league games is a great return, even for Lamps. His on pitch performances have perhaps not been as impressive as in recent campaigns, but Frank has more assists and the same number of goals as he tallied up in the whole of last season.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 clean sheet, 3 Bonus Points
Didier Drogba:
Whilst Ancelotti’s chopping and changing of the playing system this season has been detrimental to the performance of many players, Drogba has excelled regardless of formation. As part of a front two or lone striker, he has bulldozed his way through the Premier league defences this season and has easily been the club’s most important player. In the midst of the most successful goalscoring league season of his career to date, with 21 league strikes already.
Drogba is clear favourite in our poll for GW31 captain, and here’s the reason why: this season, he has played in 11 away league fixtures and either scored or assisted in nine of them, racking up ten goals, four assists and 11 Bonus Points on the road.
Predicted Return: 2 goals, 1 assist, 4 Bonus Points