closed Sevilla 0-4 Chelsea

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

Rudiger, Havertz, CHO, Pulisic and Giroud for Zouma, Mount, Werner, Ziyech and Abraham. That is it. Gilmour should play his first game against Russian side.

[Jase 43,479]

Understandable to rotate against Sevilla tomorrow but won't be surprised if we ended up with a defeat. Would gladly take a draw. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

Calculated risks and all

[Tomo 21,751]

47 minutes ago, Jason said:

Understandable to rotate against Sevilla tomorrow but won't be surprised if we ended up with a defeat. Would gladly take a draw. 

In many ways we've got a win win situation tonight (in the short term).

Win and next week's game is practically a friendly.

Draw and top spot is in our hands next week (plus Sevilla winning at Rennes is anything but a foregone conclusion).

Lose and next week's game is practically a friendly.

So basically either side win we for all intents and purposes wipe a game of our schedule. If it weren't for Bayern (genuinely believe we'll make the quarters if we dodge them) I wouldn't really care about finishing top but assuming the other English teams finish top we will have a 1 in 4 chance of pulling them which is too high for my liking, so hopefully we get the win tomorrow! 

[ulvhedin 526]

Amazing job by physios and fitness staf - we have all players healthy and ready to play.

[Jase 43,479]

51 minutes ago, ulvhedin said:

Amazing job by physios and fitness staf - we have all players healthy and ready to play.

DON'T JINX IT!!!

[Puliiszola 519]

Mendy

James zouma Silva chilwell

Kovacic kante Kai

Ziyech Werner pulisic

 

 

 

[Atomiswave 6,117]

 

[Muzchap 8,966]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

DON'T JINX IT!!!

That's your job 🤣🤣🤣

[DANILA 290]

Probably 0-0 lol

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

This would be a rest game for Silva and Werner for me. Tbf, Mount could use rest even though that machine never seems like he needs it.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Finishing top is huge, we need to go there and have a go. I'm worried that we won't be this way inclined 

[Jase 43,479]

Seeing how the likes of Atletico, Real, Inter, PSG etc are struggling to qualify from their group, really glad that we have done so without any trouble, especially in this crazy season. 

[Vesper 30,182]

I want this win for my birthday prezzie!!!!

we celebrate our birthdays on the 4th as wifey is born a few days after me, so the 4th is in the middle

[Muzchap 8,966]

7 minutes ago, Vesper said:

I want this win for my birthday prezzie!!!!

we celebrate our birthdays on the 4th as wifey is born a few days after me, so the 4th is in the middle

Remember Remember the 4th of December 👍👍👍👍

[Vesper 30,182]

3 minutes ago, Muzchap said:

Remember Remember the 4th of December 👍👍👍👍

lol, my sisters birthday is November 5th

[Hutcho 8,443]

In many ways we've got a win win situation tonight (in the short term).
Win and next week's game is practically a friendly.
Draw and top spot is in our hands next week (plus Sevilla winning at Rennes is anything but a foregone conclusion).
Lose and next week's game is practically a friendly.
So basically either side win we for all intents and purposes wipe a game of our schedule. If it weren't for Bayern (genuinely believe we'll make the quarters if we dodge them) I wouldn't really care about finishing top but assuming the other English teams finish top we will have a 1 in 4 chance of pulling them which is too high for my liking, so hopefully we get the win tomorrow! 

I agree. I want us to keep this train rolling of not losing but I'm fine with a draw and happy risking it a bit more with rotation to keep players fresh for Leeds who will be a challenge with their energy.

I fear one team which is bayern. Anyone else I can get behind the thought of us winning but bayern are just a different animal in recent years.

Plus given the fact that it looks like United, pool and city will all top their groups that is 3 teams we can't get if we come second which gives us:
25 percent chance bayern.
25 percent chance dortmund (assuming they stay top)
25 percent chance barca
25 percent (probably real if they win their last game at home which they should)

So we'd be favourites vs 1/4 of the teams there (even though I'd rate our chances of beating barca and real Madrid).

Now should we top the group it opens us up to a lot more possibilites:

Atletico Madrid
Inter (probably)
Porto
Atalanta
Lazio
Juve
Psg

No lay ups there either but no one I'd fear.

So in conclusion

Win the group. Draw Porto. Win. Sorted.

[Vesper 30,182]

36 minutes ago, Hutcho said:

I agree. I want us to keep this train rolling of not losing but I'm fine with a draw and happy risking it a bit more with rotation to keep players fresh for Leeds who will be a challenge with their energy.

I fear one team which is bayern. Anyone else I can get behind the thought of us winning but bayern are just a different animal in recent years.

Plus given the fact that it looks like United, pool and city will all top their groups that is 3 teams we can't get if we come second which gives us:
25 percent chance bayern.
25 percent chance dortmund (assuming they stay top)
25 percent chance barca
25 percent (probably real if they win their last game at home which they should)

So we'd be favourites vs 1/4 of the teams there (even though I'd rate our chances of beating barca and real Madrid).

Now should we top the group it opens us up to a lot more possibilites:

Atletico Madrid
Inter (probably)
Porto
Atalanta
Lazio
Juve
Psg

No lay ups there either but no one I'd fear.

So in conclusion

Win the group. Draw Porto. Win. Sorted.

would love to draw Porto as that allows us to see Malang Sarr in action against our steamroller

[Tomo 21,751]

15 hours ago, Hutcho said:

I agree. I want us to keep this train rolling of not losing but I'm fine with a draw and happy risking it a bit more with rotation to keep players fresh for Leeds who will be a challenge with their energy.

I fear one team which is bayern. Anyone else I can get behind the thought of us winning but bayern are just a different animal in recent years.

Plus given the fact that it looks like United, pool and city will all top their groups that is 3 teams we can't get if we come second which gives us:
25 percent chance bayern.
25 percent chance dortmund (assuming they stay top)
25 percent chance barca
25 percent (probably real if they win their last game at home which they should)

So we'd be favourites vs 1/4 of the teams there (even though I'd rate our chances of beating barca and real Madrid).

Now should we top the group it opens us up to a lot more possibilites:

Atletico Madrid
Inter (probably)
Porto
Atalanta
Lazio
Juve
Psg

No lay ups there either but no one I'd fear.

So in conclusion

Win the group. Draw Porto. Win. Sorted.

I think we'll be favourites against Real if they carry on playing like this. Barca the big danger is Messi having one of his touched by God games if he doesn't I truly believe we would get past Barca and pretty comfortably.

Bayern are the only big one to avoid for me, we'll make a bigger fist of it than last year but I still think over two legs they'll have a bit too much.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

The kind of match a draw is good enough for me because to be honest what I care about the most is to keep the momentum going and stay undefeated. I mean football is about the talent, IQ, tactics etc. but still the confidence and the atmosphere play a huge part, too and Chelsea must continue to ride this positive wave.

Although it seems to be the kind of match we've all seen before where we'd settle for a draw, why not, thinking it's an away game on a difficult ground and then Chelsea go there and do the job immaculately like the Conte wins at the Etihad or in Madrid v Atletico where I did not even break a sweat in front of the TV. And the similarities were that the momentum was in our favour and everything seemed to click at the club, this is why it is important to keep the unbeaten run going on and on.