I think even if we were on level points and had won the last four games 5-0, I’d still be dreading Saturday’s match. Stamford Bridge is such a difficult place to go under Mourinho and I never enjoy it. I don’t think many people do.
But I’m especially not looking forward to this one, purely because of how the last few games have gone; in particular the ones against Arsenal and Middlesbrough. Those have severely damaged our chances of silverware this season, to the degree that Saturday is a make-or-break game for us. And what a place to have a make-or-break game.
Of course, even if we do lose at the weekend and go 8 points behind, there’s months left to try and regain that difference, but I personally can’t see it happening again, not after the way you slipped up last month and yet you’ve managed to get back to the same situation without much trouble, which is the worrying thing. Whereas you seem to be able to do that without much trouble, we don’t.
It is a shame that we’ll still be without Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony going into Saturday’s match-up. There were rumours they could have featured had the Ivory Coast been knocked out of the AFCON on Wednesday evening, but they managed to get a 1-0 win against Cameroon that put them through to the quarter-finals, hence they won’t be able to play a part. Whilst that is a bad thing, I still think we have enough talent to be able to do something, but maybe not quite as easily (not that it’s an easy task either way) as if we had those two players back and ready to play.
On the other hand, Frank Lampard will be able to feature despite the doubts about his availability last week after he was injured in Abu Dhabi, and that could also be something that decides the game. He’s turned out to be a great signing for us since August, and whereas I thought he was only going to be here to make sure he stays fit before jetting off to New York, he’s been a lot more than that. His range of passing has been superb, and he’s been able to control games and score important goals for us. Like the one he scored against Chelsea in September.
After last week’s loss against Middlesbrough, I think that we are a bit more likely to be up for Saturday. Although we’re obviously not favourites, the players will want to go out at the Bridge and get a result, to show they’re still good enough to play at this level, and possibly because they’re feeling a bit embarrassed about how they played last week.
Players like Aguero are obviously the ones you need to look out for, especially after what he did at Stamford Bridge last season, but I think Zabaleta and Kolarov (or Clichy, who might be more likely to play) could be essential if we are to get a win or a draw on Saturday. Of course, if Fabregas and Luis are both out as well, that helps as well. Fingers crossed, eh?
