After a tense 2-1 win in Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will hope to improve their Premier League form at the Britannia Stadium in Saturday’s late kick-off. They will be without manager Jose Mourinho as he serves a one-match stadium ban meaning he cannot be at the Britannia or communicate with his coaching staff.
According to the Standard, Jose believes his ban will motivate his players to get the three points and begin the climb from 15th to a coveted Champions League spot.
He said:
I think they [the players] will know I am with them. They know I am going to prepare the team until the moment they go to the game.
They know that during the game the action of the manager is not so crucial and I think the fact they know why I am not on the bench is also important for the group.
He will hope the tide is changing as the Blues capitulated in Premier League games against Southampton and Liverpool but won on Wednesday night thanks to a superb free-kick from the in-form winger, Willian. Asmir Begovic also believes that their mid-week performance will help them prepare for Saturday’s crunch tie.
We want to try and put results together in the League. Beating Kiev was a good start and, hopefully, we will carry on from here. There will be a different mood in training when we report back today. The atmosphere is always good after a win and the manager will have us well prepared for Saturday.
Chelsea fans will be happy with the win that keeps their dream of topping their Champions League group alive, but a defeat at the Britannia would once again put pressure on Mourinho and give owner Roman Abramovich a managerial headache.
Mourinho will hope his players respond to Wednesday’s win with all three points or pundits and fans alike will no doubt blame his absence from the touchline as the reason for defeat.
